Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chutima Wongfu, Wareerat Prasitwiset, Anocha Poommouang, Kittisak Buddhachat, Janine L. Brown, Siriwadee Chomdej, Jatupol Kampuansai, Patcharaporn Kaewmong, Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, Korakot Nganvongpanit
Summary: The leatherback sea turtle is the largest and most migratory turtle species, but its population has been declining due to human activities. This study used genetic data to assess the genetic status of leatherback turtles in Thailand and globally. The results reveal the need for proactive, long-term management and conservation strategies for this endangered species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge Oros, Maria Camacho, Pascual Calabuig, Cristian Rial-Berriel, Natalia Montesdeoca, Soraya Deniz, Octavio P. Luzardo
Summary: Postmortem studies on leatherback sea turtles are rare due to their pelagic life history. This study in the Canary Islands, Spain, describes the pathological findings and causes of mortality of 13 leatherback turtles stranded from 1998 to 2017. The turtles possibly died due to anthropogenic causes with higher hepatic concentrations of Se, As, and Cd, and exposure to REE-ME was reported for the first time. Organic contaminant hepatic concentrations were generally low or undetectable.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Junichi Okuyama, Scott R. Benson, Peter H. Dutton, Jeffrey A. Seminoff
Summary: The study found that marine mesotherm leatherback turtles adjust their diving behavior according to changes in sea surface temperature, potentially diving into deeper cold waters to avoid overheating; their diving behavior includes migratory traits related to foraging hotspots, demonstrating behavioral thermoregulation in warmer waters.
Article
Ecology
Amy Migneault, Ashley Bennison, Thomas K. Doyle, Michael C. James
Summary: Despite previous studies on the diving behavior of leatherback sea turtles, there is a lack of high-resolution data on their diving behavior in confirmed foraging areas. Short-term deployments of suction cup tags with time-depth recorders on leatherback turtles in a foraging area in Canada revealed variability in diving behavior between and within individuals. These findings provide a detailed look at the foraging dynamics of these diving marine reptiles.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joana Castro, Ashley Payne Hughes, Andre Cid, Ana Rita Patricio, Marina I. Laborde, Fabio L. Matos
Summary: This study presents sighting data of loggerhead and leatherback turtles off the south coast of Portugal, collected from 2016 to 2022. The results show the recurrent presence of loggerhead turtles in the study area, with a higher sightings rate in May and June. The study highlights the importance of the southern waters of Portugal for loggerhead turtles and suggests future management measures to reduce interactions with fisheries.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlos Abraham Castillo-Morales, Andrea Saenz-Arroyo, Gabriela Castellanos-Morales, Lorena Ruiz-Montoya
Summary: Despite conservation efforts, the leatherback turtle remains at risk of extinction. This study found evidence of a genetic bottleneck in the species, hindering its recovery compared to the olive ridley turtle. Local ecological knowledge and genetic analysis revealed the presence of two distinct lineages of leatherback turtles, with one lineage at higher risk of extinction due to lower genetic diversity. This research highlights the importance of integrating LEK, environmental history, and genetics to understand conservation challenges and identifies a new lineage of the leatherback turtle.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Marc Girondot, Baptiste Mourrain, Damien Chevallier, Matthew H. Godfrey
Summary: Leatherback marine turtles are the largest extant turtles living most of their lives in oceanic habitats, making it difficult to study their growth from hatchling to adult stage. Through reanalyzing growth trajectories and age-size relationships, it was found that leatherback turtles exhibit indeterminate growth, with sexual maturity potentially reached between 14 to 50 years in natural conditions.
MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE
(2021)
Article
Zoology
J. Garcia-Grajales, J. F. Meraz-Hernando, J. L. Arcos Garcia, E. Ramirez-Fuentes
Summary: The study found that incubation temperature significantly influences the morphology of Leatherback Turtle hatchlings, with higher temperatures resulting in smaller size and narrower carapaces, and lower temperatures leading to larger size and wider carapaces. The incubation temperature had a similar impact on hatchling morphology in hatcheries as in natural environments.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Samantha E. Trail, Michael Salmon
Summary: Marine turtle hatchlings emerge from their nests and crawl to the ocean, depending on their ability to discern between the sea and land. Leatherback and loggerhead hatchlings exhibit different orientation and crawling behaviors, possibly due to the stronger intensity discrimination ability of leatherbacks. While their crawling behaviors are similar under bright moonlight, leatherbacks show significantly increased circling during darker moon conditions. We propose that circling may be used by leatherbacks to reinforce orientation decisions when horizon cues become difficult to discern.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kirsten E. Andersson, Laura Adamovicz, Lauren E. Mumm, Samantha E. Bradley, John M. Winter, Gary Glowacki, Carolyn Cray, Matthew C. Allender
Summary: Establishing baseline plasma electrophoresis profiles is important for the conservation and captive management of species. This study found that various factors such as age class, sex, health status, and geographical location contribute to the variation in plasma protein fractions of free-ranging populations of Blanding's turtles. Adult females had the highest concentration of many protein fractions, likely due to reproductive activity, while juveniles had lower protein concentrations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kevin Alan Zavala-Felix, Miguel Angel Reyes-Lopez, Fatima Yedith Camacho-Sanchez, Hector Hugo Acosta-Sanchez, Catherine E. Hart, Alan A. Zavala-Norzagaray, Valeria Leal-Sepulveda, Renato Leal-Moreno, Brenda Aracely Espinoza-Romo, A. Alonso Aguirre, Cesar P. Ley-Quinonez
Summary: The concentrations of trace elements in the blood of nesting Kemp's ridley turtles were determined at Rancho Nuevo sanctuary in Tamaulipas, Mexico. The study found that there were no significant differences in trace element concentrations between different years, except for Se levels which may be influenced by seasonal differences in turtle size. Furthermore, no relationship between turtle size and element concentration was observed.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Alissa B. Mones, Erika J. Gruber, Craig A. Harms, Catherine M. F. Lohmann, Kenneth J. Lohmann, Gregory A. Lewbart
Summary: Short periods of manual restraint in sea turtles can lead to lactic acidosis, significantly influencing blood gas values and lactate concentrations. Clinicians should carefully evaluate and interpret these values to ensure accurate health assessments.
JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE
(2021)
