Title
Living on the edge: Hawksbill turtle nesting and conservation along the Eastern Pacific Rim
Date Issued
01 January 2017
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Gaos A.R.
Liles M.J.
Gadea V.
De Niz A.P.
Vallejo F.
Miranda C.
Darquea J.J.
Henriquez A.
Altamirano E.
Rivera A.
Chavarría S.
Melero D.
Urteaga J.
Pacheco C.M.
Chácon D.
LeMarie C.
Mangel J.C.
Yañez I.L.
Seminoff J.A.
Publisher(s)
Escuela de Ciencias del Mar
Abstract
Prior to 2007, efforts to monitor and conserve hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the eastern Pacific Ocean were opportunistic and records were virtually non-existent. The first abundance estimates were published in 2010, but contained limited data on the species. Ongoing research since that time has led to the identification of several rookeries, including sites containing large proportions of the overall hawksbill nesting currently known to occur in the region. Monitoring projects were established at several sites and have since provided substantial nesting data on the species. Here we summarize data collected between 1983 and March 2016 from all sites (n = 9) confirmed to host >10 nests in any given season to provide an update on hawksbill nesting in the eastern Pacific. We documented a total of 3,508 hawksbill nests, 265,024 hatchlings and 528 individual nesting females in the region. The vast majority of these records (99.4%, 99.9% and 99.6%, respectively) were generated subsequent to 2007, coinciding with the discovery of eight of the nine rookeries included in this study and the organization of monitoring efforts at those sites, which led to the increased documentation conferred here. Our findings should not be misconstrued as increases in actual nesting or signs of recovery, which could diminish the ongoing need for conservation actions, but rather as optimism, that there is still an opportunity to restore the species in the eastern Pacific. The top three sites in terms of average annual number of nests were Estero Padre Ramos (Nicaragua; 213.2 ± 47.6 nests), Bahia de Jiquilisco (El Salvador; 168.5 ± 46.7 nests) and Aserradores (Nicaragua; 100.0 ± 24.0 nests), and all three sites are located in mangrove estuaries in Central America, highlighting the importance of these rookeries/habitats for the survival and recovery of hawksbills in the region. The remaining six sites received between 6.9 ± 7.3 nests (Costa Careyes, Mexico) and 59.3 ± 17.7 nests (Los Cobanos, El Salvador) annually. By integrating data collected on nesting hawksbills with local conservation realities at the most important known hawksbill rookeries in the eastern Pacific, we provide a more holistic view of the conservation status and management needs of the species in this ocean region.
Start page
572
End page
584
Volume
45
Issue
3
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Biología marina, Biología de agua dulce, Limnología
Conservación de la Biodiversidad
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85028300206
Source
Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research
Sponsor(s)
We thank the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Agency for International Development, International Seafood Sustainability Institute, SeeTurtles.org, Darwin Initiative, Seaworld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, The William H. Donner Foundation, Inc., Marina del Sol, Asociación Mangle, Ayuda en Acción, CODEPA, FUNDARRECIFE, FUNZEL, The Rufford Foundation, Puerto Barillas, Vivazul, Plant-A-Fish, ?!Careyes Foundation, Bodega Williams & Humbert, Conservation International-Ecuador, Machalilla National Park, The Ocean Foundation and the Hawksbill Committee of Estero Padre Ramos for logistical/ financial support. We are grateful to national environmental authorities in Mexico (CONANP), El Salvador (MARN), Nicaragua (MARENA), Costa Rica (SINAC-ACOSA) and Ecuador (MAE) for permits. We are indebted to the community members and careyeros of the study sites for their support. In particular we would like to thank the following individuals: Perla Torres, Luís Manzanares, Neftalí Sanchez, Melissa Valle, Wilfredo Lopez, Celina Dueñas, Luis Mera,
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus