Worldwide, sea turtles are especially vulnerable immediately after emerging from
nests. Many monitoring programs measure hatchling production from nest inventories.
These inventories rarely account for mortality occurring post-emergence, leaving an
incomplete estimate of hatchling production. This study addresses the nest-to-surf data gap
for Florida’s east coast nesting assemblages of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta).
Five locations were surveyed during the 2016 nesting season by using infrared time-lapse
imagery, night vision optics, and track maps. Over all beaches, 7.6% of the observed
hatchlings did not survive to reach the water. Mortality sources varied by location.
Observed predators included: foxes, bobcats, yellow-crowned night herons, ghost crabs,
and gulls. Hatchling disorientation and misorientation occurred more frequently in urban
areas than natural areas. Factors including number of hatchlings emerging, nest-to-surf
distance, and urbanization may help managers estimate nest-to-surf mortality. This study
will improve life history models that serve as foundations of conservation management. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fau.edu/oai:fau.digital.flvc.org:fau_38012 |
| Contributors | Erb, Victoria (author), Wyneken, Jeanette (Thesis advisor), Florida Atlantic University (Degree grantor), Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences |
| Publisher | Florida Atlantic University |
| Source Sets | Florida Atlantic University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 53 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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