The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is facing global declines; however, the Florida stock is generally increasing. Various studies have identified threats to sea turtles, but there is a need to quantify population-level threats. I used external examination and blood analyses of leatherbacks nesting on northern Palm Beach County, Florida beaches to understand the impact(s) that physical injuries have on this population. Notable injuries were present on 118 of 167 (70.7%) turtles. Fisheries injuries were more prevalent than other anthropogenic injuries; however, there was a higher overall prevalence of natural injuries. There were no notable findings from my blood analyses. My results suggest that while natural injuries are more common than anthropogenic injuries in the nesting population of Florida leatherbacks, anthropogenic injuries are more likely to result in severe traumatic wounds. Future investigation of overlap in leatherback migratory routes and foraging grounds with various threats could further protect this species. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (MS)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The migratory behavior of North Atlantic leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) has been documented in the Wider Caribbean, but the migratory movements of leatherbacks nesting in South Florida are relatively understudied. Our knowledge of their migrations is currently limited to ten nesting females tracked from the east coast of Florida that either moved north to the Northern Atlantic or east to the coast of Western Africa. These results bring to light the need for further investigation and larger sample sizes to identify and determine the relative importance of the different foraging areas for the leatherbacks nesting in South Florida. Here, I analyzed stable carbon (δ13C) and stable nitrogen (δ15N) values in whole blood and skin of leatherbacks nesting in South Florida between 2014 and 2017 to estimate the putative foraging origins of these nesters prior to coming to South Florida to nest. This study provides some of the first stable isotope inferences and insights into the variable pre-nesting foraging habitat locations of Florida’s leatherback population. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection