Grant: 25-049R
Project Title: Behavioral ecology of Kemp's ridley turtles: insights into the diving, energetics and response of Kemp's ridleys to stressors.
Project Manager: Mariana Fuentes
Organization: Florida State University (Research and Educational Institute)
Grant Amount: $14,977.00
Completion Date:
Summary: A species behavioral information offers critical context for spatial management planning. However, collecting spatially explicit behavioral data in the wild is challenging, especially for marine turtles, like Kemp's Ridley, a species whose lifestyles preclude direct observation for extended periods. However, recent advances in bio-logging devices, which include fine-scale movement measurements (e.g., using accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and time-depth recorders) as well as video recordings of an animal surrounding, have allowed fine-scale behaviors of marine turtles to be and have provided fine scale information on behavioral response to disturbances. Thus, this project will leverage recent advances in biologging devices, and existent work by our group to obtain fine-scale behavioral information on Kemp's Ridley turtles in their foraging area. This will provide information into Kemp's Ridley diving and foraging behavior, which to date is limited. Additionally, since the project will be conducted in Crystal River, where recreational scallop fishery takes place from July to September, this project will also provide the opportunity to quantify the fine scale response of marine turtles to vessel interactions. This will provide a better understanding of the energetic implications of marine turtle responses to vessel interactions and help inform management strategies.
Results: