Nesting range expansion of loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean: Phenology, spatial distribution, and conservation implications

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 38, P. e02194 - e02194

Published: June 16, 2022

Global warming is affecting habitat quality and availability on our planet some species are predicted or by now changing their distribution range. Here we show that loggerhead turtles have already started to expand nesting range into the Western Mediterranean, which has until recently hosted only sporadic nests. We compiled information activity from beaches surrounding Mediterranean collected metadata turtle nests in Spain, France, Italy, Tunisia between 2010 2020 provide an exhaustive overview phenomenon of emerging new nest sites for turtles. The number recorded increased drastically since 2013 1 3 nests/year a record 84 registered 2020. While this increase may partly be explained grown awareness reporting citizens, there no doubt upward trend activity. unevenly distributed over study area with most occurring coasts warmer Tyrrhenian Sea. A hotspot analysis identified SW SE Sardinia, NW statistically significant clustering Within these hotspots, three Italy one had at least four out five last years. Nesting phenology corresponds Eastern rookeries, mean hatching success naturally incubating, non-manipulated was 66 %, although variability across region. Mean incubation durations also varied countries indicating diversity inferred sex ratios, sufficient female production foster future colonisation Unfortunately, under high tourist pressure subject intense coastal development, imposing many threats females, eggs, hatchlings. Thus, while reveals unique opportunity witness ongoing process turtles, it calls urgent proactive conservation actions mitigate allow establish rookeries.

Language: Английский

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Divergent sensory and immune gene evolution in sea turtles with contrasting demographic and life histories

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(7)

Published: Feb. 7, 2023

Sea turtles represent an ancient lineage of marine vertebrates that evolved from terrestrial ancestors over 100 Mya. The genomic basis the unique physiological and ecological traits enabling these species to thrive in diverse habitats remains largely unknown. Additionally, many populations have drastically declined due anthropogenic activities past two centuries, their recovery is a high global conservation priority. We generated analyzed high-quality reference genomes for leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea ) green Chelonia mydas turtles, representing extant sea turtle families. These are highly syntenic homologous, but localized regions noncollinearity were associated with higher copy numbers immune, zinc-finger, olfactory receptor (OR) genes ORs related waterborne odorants greatly expanded turtles. Our findings suggest divergent evolution key gene families may underlie immunological sensory adaptations assisting navigation, occupancy neritic versus pelagic environments, diet specialization. Reduced collinearity was especially prevalent microchromosomes, greater content, heterozygosity, genetic distances between species, supporting critical role vertebrate evolutionary adaptation. Finally, diversity demographic histories starkly contrasted indicating had low yet stable effective population size, exhibit extremely compared other reptiles, harbor load reinforcing concern persistence under future climate scenarios. provide invaluable resources advancing our understanding best practices imperiled lineage.

Language: Английский

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A Database of Underwater Radiated Noise from Small Vessels in the Coastal Area

Scientific Data, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Feb. 18, 2025

The current procedures for measuring underwater radiated noise (URN) are designed cooperating vessels in controlled areas. As such, not a lot of data is available the URN unidentified opportunity (VOO), especially small that do carry an automatic identification systems (AIS). To this end, we assembled database 1148 VOO's from acoustic and visual recordings ferries, fishing boats, yachts, speed boats made within Šibenik canal, Croatia. comprises source pressure levels at closest point approach, picture video vessel, vessel's speed, size, type. A shared webpage allows filtering comparing vessel types characteristics. In paper, share structure our database, analysis methodology. We conclude significant compatible to large vessels.

Language: Английский

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Ingestion and characterization of plastic debris by loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, in the Balearic Islands

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 826, P. 154159 - 154159

Published: Feb. 26, 2022

Plastic waste has become ubiquitous pollutants in seas and oceans can affect a wide range of species. For some marine species, plastic debris could pose considerable threat through entanglement, ingestion, habitat degradation loss. Sea turtles are one the most sensitive as their migratory behaviour multifaceted life cycles make these reptiles especially vulnerable to negative effects debris. The present study aimed assess amount composition ingested by loggerhead (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus, 1758) Balearic Islands Sea, thusly providing new information complete knowledge for this topic. In work, 45 stranded dead C. caretta specimens were necropsied, digestive tract content analysed presence objects observed 27 individuals (60.0%), with an average 12.7 ± 4.7 items per turtle. Litter faecal pellet was also monitored 67 living individuals, observing elements 46 (68.7%) specimens, reporting 9.7 3.3 individual. Overall, 785 found, measured, weighed categorized according size, colour, shape, type polymer. main sheets that found 65.3% analysed, being white (42.7%) transparent (29.2%) predominant colours. Most macroplastics (59.3%), while microplastics not found. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR) analysis showed high-density polyethylene polypropylene polymer plastics, representing 42.3% 33.8% total, respectively. conclusion, high occurrence determined evidenced first time ingestion Islands, highlights bioindicator organism pollution.

Language: Английский

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Going west: Range expansion for loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea under climate change

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 38, P. e02264 - e02264

Published: Aug. 17, 2022

Global changes represent possibly the greatest threat to future of biodiversity, and this is especially true for species using very different habitats during their life cycle. The problem even greater when dealing with human dominated landscapes (e.g., Mediterranean basin) where climate change habitat destruction degradation often interact synergistically. We explored synergy focusing on loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in Sea. Sea depend both marine terrestrial environments are influenced at same time by occurring realms. To explore nesting grounds last decades, we first analysed 10-year geographical centers gravity all nests from 1960 2020. By only 20 years, incorporated variables into a distribution model (SDM), while accounting temporal variability multi-temporal calibration approach. center shifted roughly 1300 km northwest, suitability (with lowest AICc value mean AUC = 0.919 ± 0.047; p-value ≤ 0.001) highlighted sharp increase over northwest In frame, southeast showed limited nesting. most important were anthropogenic variables, which negatively influence probability, surface temperature, an up maximum probability around 24–25 °C, but rapid decrease higher temperatures. potential importance North-western beaches as possible range highlights relevance proactive efforts assist turtles’ conservation expansion. More general, our analyses demonstrate considering multiple realms modeling complex cycles.

Language: Английский

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Sea turtle strandings along the Northwestern Moroccan coast: Spatio-temporal distribution and main threats

Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 237, P. 106539 - 106539

Published: Feb. 21, 2023

Language: Английский

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Microplastics evidence in yolk and liver of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), a pilot study.

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 337, P. 122589 - 122589

Published: Sept. 19, 2023

The potential toxicity of microplastics is a growing concern for the scientific community. loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) particularly inclined to accidently ingest plastic and microplastic due its long-life cycle features. possible transfer from female eggs should be investigated. present study investigated presence in yolk liver samples evaluating number melanomacrophages hepatic tissue as biomarker impact on embryonic health status. biometric parameters histological analysis 27 48 embryos (from two different nests respectively) at 30 stage development were analyzed. Raman Microspectroscopy was performed identify after alkaline digestion (10% KOH) portion 5 developmental per nest. Microplastics found turtles late first time. All smaller than μm made polymers colors suggesting their diverse origins. A total 21 microplastics, with dimensions lower μm, between (11 10 respectively). Only shape categories identified: spheres fragments. most frequent observed polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (31.5%, 21.1% 15.8% Despite showing higher (15 6 respectively), positive correlation only (r = 0.863 p < 0.001) liver. This result may suggest that could exert some effects tissues. Future studies investigate this aspect relation other stress biomarkers.

Language: Английский

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The impact of climate change on sea turtles: Current knowledge, scientometrics, and mitigation strategies

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 923, P. 171354 - 171354

Published: March 7, 2024

Language: Английский

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Evidence of ingested plastics in stranded loggerhead sea turtles along the Greek coastline, East Mediterranean Sea

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 263, P. 114596 - 114596

Published: April 14, 2020

Language: Английский

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Global review and inventory: how stable isotopes are helping us understand ecology and inform conservation of marine turtles

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 613, P. 217 - 245

Published: Feb. 19, 2019

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 613:217-245 (2019) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12889 REVIEW Global review and inventory: how stable isotopes are helping us understand ecology inform conservation of marine turtles Julia C. Haywood1,2,*, Wayne J. Fuller3, Brendan Godley1,4, Jamie D. Shutler5, Stephen Widdicombe2, Annette Broderick1 1Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Conservation, University Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK 2Plymouth Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, 3Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Near East University, North Cyprus, Mersin 10, Turkey 4Environment Sustainability Institute, 5Centre Geography Environment Science, *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT: Stable isotope analysis (SIA) has become a powerful widely utilised tool in ecological studies, more specifically been used answer questions regarding key indicator species including turtles. Undertaking an exhaustive peer-reviewed literature, we summarise current knowledge turtle spatial, foraging, reproductive gained through studies highlight considerable flexibility complexities life histories six that have studied. We demonstrate SIA can initiatives, identify threats faced, provide pre- post-disaster information is otherwise unavailable. ratios at global scale intraspecific regional differences interspecific overlap. geographical gaps bias To facilitate future research comprehensive recommendations need standardised protocols tissue collection analysis; use third forensic marker greater power inference; combining complementary techniques enhance gained; conducting long-term research; meta-analytic approaches combine findings better ecology. This provides complete all published which summarised open access inventory enable researchers add new target work. KEY WORDS: · δ13C δ15N Sea Foraging Migratory connectivity Reproductive Threats Full text pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Haywood JC, Fuller WJ, Godley BJ, Shutler JD, Widdicombe S, Broderick AC Mar Ecol Prog Ser 613:217-245. Export citation Tweet linkedIn Cited by Published Vol. 613. Online publication date: March 21, 2019 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; 1616-1599 Copyright © Inter-Research.

Language: Английский

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