Sea Turtle Research and Conservation

SEA TURTLE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION

sea-turtle The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation’s Sea Turtle Research and Conservation program bridges the fields of genetics, ecology, and education to advance research and protection of endangered and threatened sea turtles and their ecosystems. Led by Center for Biodiversity and Conservation researcher Dr. Eugenia Naro-Maciel, this program takes an interdisciplinary approach, focusing on: sea turtles of the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, conservation genetics, and conservation applications through education and outreach.

The world’s oceans and seas cover about three-quarters of the planet's surface, and contain much of our threatened biodiversity. Currently, marine organisms and ecosystems are under intense stress, resulting in the disruption of fundamental ecological processes and biodiversity loss worldwide. Throughout their highly migratory life cycles, endangered sea turtles play important ecological roles in many of these ecosystems. After hatching from eggs on nesting beaches, young sea turtles disperse into the ocean. As juveniles, some species leave the oceanic environment and move to coastal feeding genia grounds. Adults undertake breeding migrations between feeding grounds and nesting areas that may be thousands of kilometers apart, and many females return to nest in the vicinity of their natal beach. International cooperation is therefore key for effective management, and sea turtles are included in several global treaties. These charismatic animals have long been important elements of diverse cultures, and continue to endear themselves to many people today. Their conservation can benefit humans as well, for example through ecotourism or environmental employment. Even so, many of these ancient reptiles are now endangered worldwide due to harvest, fisheries interaction, habitat loss, pollution and disease, climate change, and other factors, mirroring the overall marine biodiversity crisis. The good news is that sea turtles are a “flagship species,” and by conserving them we can also protect the diverse and vast ecosystems they occupy.

Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
The Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Program is currently working to establish the first comprehensive sea turtle conservation research plan for the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Sea turtles at the remote Palmyra Atoll, located about halfway between Hawai’i and American Samoa, forage in a unique environment currently removed from pervasive anthropogenic influence. Very little is known about sea turtles and their habitats at Palmyra, and this research is specifically designed to strengthen scientific knowledge and to inform conservation and management decisions. Research at Palmyra can expand our knowledge of these reptiles where they are relatively unaffected by people, providing an essential baseline for understanding natural processes, ecological roles, and human impacts. Program goals at Palmyra are to study sea turtle distribution and abundance, focusing on ecological interactions, behavior, conservation, health issues, and connectivity. Field surveys conducted by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation research team and collaborators have been instructive in identifying points to be considered in managing these populations, emphasizing the benefits of a gradual, science-based, and adaptive approach. Results of the collaborative research were presented at recent annual symposia on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, and annual meetings of the Society for Conservation Biology.

Conservation Genetics
At the AMNH Center for Conservation Genetics (CCG) and Institute for Comparative Genomics (ICG), advanced technology and new algorithms are used to address questions of critical importance to conserving genetic diversity. In our research we are studying the evolutionary relationships of sea turtles as revealed by nuclear genes to help resolve remaining questions and controversies, and to inform conservation priorities. We are also working with scientists in Uruguay and the Cape Verde Islands to elucidate genetic relationships of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Our research on green sea turtle feeding grounds of Brazil was published in the Journal of Heredity, and similar collaborative projects are being carried out for Brazil’s Rocas Atoll Reserve and World Heritage Site, the Florida Everglades National Park, the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, and Cerro Verde, Uruguay. Determining connectivity through genetic analysis enables managers to better understand the range of the sea turtles they work with, recognize distinct populations, and identify regional management partners. Results have been presented for the last ten years at international scientific meetings and in published articles.

Education and Outreach
Insights from this research are in turn disseminated as scientific publications and presentations, educational materials, and in writings for a broader audience. The research at Palmyra Atoll is being incorporated into educational materials produced by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation's Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (http://ncep.amnh.org). A case study about sea turtles in New York is also being written as part of the NCEP initiative. In addition, an invited editorial about conservation genetics was featured as a cover article of the widely circulated Marine Turtle Newsletter. The program also works with students to improve training through established and ongoing AMNH initiatives. The educational and outreach aspects of the Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Program contribute to broader institutional efforts that enhance public awareness of biodiversity conservation, and are employed around the world to improve conservation training and understanding of biodiversity.