Marine Turtle Conservation Research Articles

Attitudes Towards Turtle Conservation: An Island Wide Study in Sri Lanka


 
 
 Sri Lanka is visited by the five of the seven living sea turtle species recorded in the world. Sea turtle populations are declining, as is their ability to perform critical services in ocean ecosystems. Some of the obvious risks faced by marine turtles in Sri Lanka include incidental bycatch, illegal egg poaching, habitat change, destruction, and natural causes such as predation and erosion. Attitudes towards conservation of turtles and underlying motives for such attitudes is a lesser researched subject in the country. The present study therefore aims at assessing the attitudes of Sri Lankans towards conservation of sea turtles. A household survey was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire adopting simple random sampling among 1084 households across the twenty-five districts of Sri Lanka through telephone and in-person interview from December 2021 to May 2022. The socioeconomic data of respondents, membership in a wild life or environmental organizations, recreational experience of turtles were also collected. A set of statements on sea turtles were presented for which the respondents indicated their preferences. Their willingness to contribute towards conservation was also recorded. The results of the study indicate that individuals from twenty-five districts had already been exposed to a wealth of knowledge regarding marine turtles and were well-informed. There were 603 individuals from coastal districts while 481 were from non-coastal districts. The average age was 45 years while number of respondents who had a membership of any environmental related wildlife organization was 164. Seventy four percent of the sample had seen live marine turtles; 37.6% of them had seen marine turtles in zoological gardens. Majority of respondents strongly agreed that (84% on average) sea turtles are worth protecting. Forty one percent of respondents agreed that it is everyone‘s duty to ensure the existence of plants and animals for future generations, showing that respondents had bequest motive for marine turtle conservation. Majority (63.3%) of respondents strongly agreed that sea turtles have the right to exist in the environment, showing that there is a strong existence motive for the conservation of sea turtles. The study emphasize the need to better utilize the strong motives of people for sea turtle conservation efforts in Sri Lanka that requires attention of legislators and decision-makers.
 Keywords: Sea turtle, Attitudes, Conservation, Motives
 
 

Marine turtles, umbrella species undergoing recovery

Marine turtles inhabit various coastal and marine ecosystems and play significant ecological roles throughout their life cycles. Because of the significant overlap with other species at risk in their geographic ranges, the successful conservation of marine turtles also protects numerous co-occurring species, a phenomenon known as the “umbrella species effect.” Since several marine turtle populations have shown positive trends, suggesting incipient recovery, it is expected that their umbrella characteristics will coevolve as their populations grow and expand. Recognizing the considerable potential of marine turtles as umbrella species, we advocate for promoting this concept and explicitly integrating it into management and recovery programs. This approach would facilitate concurrent benefits not only for marine turtles but also for other species and their associated habitats. To achieve this goal, we analyzed the conservation status of marine turtles in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean within the framework of the legal regulations. Additionally, we reviewed the current challenges in marine turtle recovery in the framework of ecological restoration, while also aiming to target and encourage their utilization as umbrella species.

Decoding the internesting movements of marine turtles using a fine-scale behavioral state approach

IntroductionAn understanding of animal behavior is critical to determine their ecological role and to inform conservation efforts. However, observing hidden behaviors can be challenging, especially for animals that spend most of their time underwater. Animal-borne devices are valuable tools to estimate hidden behavioral states.MethodsWe investigated the fine-scale behavior of internesting hawksbill turtles using the mixed-membership method for movement (M4) which integrated dive variables with spatial components and estimated latent behavioral states.ResultsFive latent behavioral states were identified: 1) pre-nesting, 2) transit, 3) quiescence, and 4) area restricted search within and 5) near the residence of turtles. The last three states associated with a residency period, showed lower activity levels. Notably, when compared to other behaviors the pre-nesting exhibited shallower and remarkably long dives of up to 292 minutes. We noted high fidelity to residence core areas and nesting beaches, within and between nesting seasons, with residence areas decreasing within a season.DiscussionThe latent behaviors identified provide the most detailed breakdown of turtle movement behaviors during the internesting period to date, providing valuable insights into their ecology and behavior. This information can inform marine turtle conservation and management efforts since utilization distributions of individual behavioral states can be used to determine spatially-explicit susceptibility of turtles to various threats based on their behavior. The analyses of utilization distribution revealed a minimal overlap with existing marine protected areas (0.4%), and we show how a new proposal would expand protection to 30%. In short, this study provides valuable guidance for conservation and management of internesting marine turtles at a fine spatiotemporal resolution and can be used to enhance national action plans for endangered species, including the expansion of existing Marine Protected Areas. By flexibly incorporating biologically informative parameters, this approach can be used to study behavior outside of the hawksbill breeding season or even beyond this species.

Priorities for Mediterranean marine turtle conservation and management in the face of climate change

As climate-related impacts threaten marine biodiversity globally, it is important to adjust conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. Translating scientific knowledge into practical management, however, is often complicated due to resource, economic and policy constraints, generating a knowledge-action gap. To develop potential solutions for marine turtle conservation, we explored the perceptions of key actors across 18 countries in the Mediterranean. These actors evaluated their perceived relative importance of 19 adaptation and mitigation measures that could safeguard marine turtles from climate change. Of importance, despite differences in expertise, experience and focal country, the perceptions of researchers and management practitioners largely converged with respect to prioritizing adaptation and mitigation measures. Climate change was considered to have the greatest impacts on offspring sex ratios and suitable nesting sites. The most viable adaptation/mitigation measures were considered to be reducing other pressures that act in parallel to climate change. Ecological effectiveness represented a key determinant for implementing proposed measures, followed by practical applicability, financial cost, and societal cost. This convergence in opinions across actors likely reflects long-standing initiatives in the Mediterranean region towards supporting knowledge exchange in marine turtle conservation. Our results provide important guidance on how to prioritize measures that incorporate climate change in decision-making processes related to the current and future management and protection of marine turtles at the ocean-basin scale, and could be used to guide decisions in other regions globally. Importantly, this study demonstrates a successful example of how interactive processes can be used to fill the knowledge-action gap between research and management.

MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION PROGRAM AT PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP)-Marine Turtle Conservation Program (MTCP) can be found in West Coast of Palawan Philippines. Geographical location is located in the global center of marine biodiversity, the Coral Triangle. This study described the profile of PPSNRP-MTCP in terms of location, species of marine turtles, number of hatchlings released per year, management organizational structure, conservation activities and, determined the perceived management challenges and opportunities encountered by employees during COVID 19 pandemic. Documentary analysis, net-notgraphy and focal group virtual discussion and structured questionnaires were used in data gathering. There are 3 species that were recorded in the conservation site; Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata and Lepidochelys olivacea. Hatchling success from 2015 to 2021 is at an average of 82%, and the mean hatchlings per year is 1659.4 (+/- sd.699.31). Lowest was 697 in 2014-2015, highest in 2019-2020 with 2,476 hatchlings. MTCP is under the supervision of Protected Area Superintendent (PASu). The management activities are; regular monitoring of egg nesting and hatching of the eggs, implementation of easement zone, community coastal clean-up, releasing of hatchlings and conservation awareness campaign. Debris left by typhoon Odette is the perceived very high challenge while the absence of noise during nesting season is perceived at a very high opportunity.

An assessment of marine turtle population status and conservation in Cambodia

AbstractCambodian waters historically supported significant nesting populations of marine turtles up to the early 20th century. However, although fishing and coastal development have intensified, marine turtle conservation has received little recent attention. We collate the available information on Cambodian marine turtles by summarizing NGO and government data from provincial consultations, fisheries surveys and nesting beach surveys, and synthesize our findings into recommendations for the conservation of marine turtles in Cambodia. The available data indicate that a small and highly threatened marine turtle population persists, despite significant declines driven by intense historical harvesting, widespread bycatch, loss of nesting habitat, marine wildlife trade and ongoing poor compliance with wildlife protection regulations. To improve the conservation status of Cambodian turtles, we recommend (1) revising relevant legislation to better protect marine turtle habitats whilst increasing compliance with gear restrictions and threatened species laws in priority sites, (2) trialling alternative fishing gear or gear modifications to reduce bycatch, (3) continuing capacity building for locally driven marine turtle conservation science, (4) identifying and mapping beaches with high nesting potential and protecting them from further coastal development, and (5) investing in transboundary collaborations to improve the monitoring and management of the turtle populations that range between Cambodia and neighbouring countries.

Assessing the use of marine protected areas by loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) tracked from the western Mediterranean

Up to date 264 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been declared in the western Mediterranean Sea. The management plans of 25 of these MPAs include the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) as a priority species to protect. However, the actual use of these MPAs by the species remains unknown. Therefore, it is important to assess their contribution to loggerhead conservation in the area. To this end, satellite tracking data of 103 loggerhead turtles of varying sizes and life stages released in Spanish Mediterranean waters and Southern Tyrrhenian Sea over the 2003–2018 period were herein used. Home range and use of MPAs by tracked loggerhead turtles were analysed using post-processed state-space model locations. The tracked turtles visited several Mediterranean MPAs, but barely used them (mean percentage of monitoring time = 12.6 ± 18.2 %). There was very little overlap between turtle’s core areas and tracks with the protected areas. Indeed, most of the core areas and high-density areas estimated (>85 %) were not included within any of the MPAs. Furthermore, less than 5 % of the Mediterranean MPAs were used by any tracked loggerhead sea turtles. Most of these MPAs have no protection measures that focus on this species. Loggerheads mainly use wide oceanic zones and international waters, which are difficult to protect. A high-use core area was identified for loggerhead turtles, located at the western waters of the Algerian Basin, an important fishing area outside any designated MPA and with no protection measures that focus on marine turtle conservation. We conclude that existing MPAs in the western Mediterranean may not contribute enough to loggerhead turtle conservation. We propose potential MPAs designations to be considered for loggerhead sea turtle conservation in the Mediterranean Sea at the Alboran Sea, the Algerian basin, the Northern area of the Strait of Sicily, Northeast Tunisian waters, waters around Malta, waters at the Tyrrhenian Sea and at the Ionian Sea.

CORRIGENDUM: Biology and conservation of marine turtles in the northwestern Indian Ocean: a review

CORRIGENDUM: Biology and conservation of marine turtles in the northwestern Indian Ocean: a review

Global challenges and priorities for interventions addressing illegal harvest, use and trade of marine turtles

AbstractWorldwide, conservation initiatives have attempted to curb illegal harvest, use and trade of marine turtles at least since the 1950s. Despite some declines in local trade and consumption, these illegal activities are still often reported as a key threat to marine turtle populations. Reassessing and refining global conservation priorities for marine turtles allows us to formulate evidence-based strategies and effective interventions to address this threat. We surveyed a total of 103 marine turtle conservation researchers and practitioners globally to understand how conservation efforts can be better allocated to curb illegal harvest, use and trade. We explored the characteristics of these illegal activities, conservation priorities, challenges and lessons learnt. According to participants’ perceptions, progress has been achieved, but illegal harvest, use and trade remain pressing threats globally. Current challenges to addressing illegal activities relate to fisheries management, enforcement and legislation. Recommended priority actions include law and penalty enforcement, enhancing environmental literacy, awareness and stakeholder participation, and improving local conservation leadership and onshore/maritime management based on research. Based on participants' perceptions, we identify priorities for marine turtle conservation interventions that aim to curb illegal harvest, use and trade. Given the challenges of obtaining reliable information on sensitive topics such as illegal harvest, use and trade, further work should seek to validate our findings through empirical research. Further work could also seek to comprehend better how expert elicitation in conservation is influenced by individual experience, perspectives and goals.

Biology and conservation of marine turtles in the northwestern Indian Ocean: a review

The northwestern Indian Ocean hosts globally crucial marine biodiversity, which is relatively understudied. There has, however, been significant research and conservation effort focused on marine turtles across the region in recent decades. We undertook an exhaustive review of 251 relevant publications to extract and collate the current information concerning marine turtles. To ensure completeness, we received input on a preliminary draft from a large group of experts who have worked extensively in the region. Data presented here are from all 13 countries with significant coastlines in the region (Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen) on occurrence, nesting biology, morphology, foraging areas, population status, threats, and relevant national legislation and international conservation strategies. The experts independently provided details on what they felt were the (1) most significant threats to marine turtles, (2) most critical knowledge gaps for marine turtle ecology, (3) impediments to practical conservation, and (4) essential strengths and opportunities in the region.

Integrating climate change and management scenarios in population models to guide the conservation of marine turtles

The globally significant green turtle (Chelonia mydas) population in the northern Great Barrier Reef is threatened by anthropogenic pressures, including climate change, habitat degradation, and indigenous harvest. Evidence suggesting the population is producing an extreme proportion of females due to increasing temperatures, coupled with temperature-dependent sex determination, is concerning. In response, and to explore management options, we developed two density-independent, stochastic stage-structured metapopulation models: a “Moderate Climate Model” and an “Extreme Climate Model”. The models differ based on climate change projections by incorporating increased female hatchling sex ratios due to global warming and loss of nesting habitat due to sea level rise. The models were based on demographic data from field studies at major rookeries and regional foraging grounds and allowed for variation in operational sex ratios, management actions, and levels of indigenous harvest. Under the Moderate Climate Model, population size increased but could be vulnerable to overharvest of adult females. If overharvest was indicated, the harvest of a proportion of subadults rather than only adult females reduced population declines. Under the Extreme Climate Model, there was a steep population decline even without any harvest, and harvesting subadults accelerated population decline due to the inclusion of subadult males. In the Extreme Climate Model, reversal of population decline depended on male turtles mating with an increased number of females, or management actions to substantially increase the number of male hatchlings produced.

Addressing gaps in socio-economic and natural assets to halt marine turtle egg poaching: A livelihood feasibility study in the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, Philippines

Straddling the border between the Philippines and Malaysia, the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS) forms part of the largest green turtle nesting ground in ASEAN. Due to various identified vulnerabilities, such as increasing population trends and the remote geographical location, the Turtle Islands municipality is highly susceptible to external shocks. To increase its resiliency, livelihood interventions took place in the islands in the late 1990s and early 2000s, however, none of these were sustainable in the long-term. The lack of means is often compensated for by the illegal harvest of marine turtle eggs, a practice prohibited under the Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. This paper analyses the current status of socio-economic and natural assets in the TIWS and identifies sustainable livelihood interventions to close gaps in basic services in the long-term and wean people away from marine turtle egg poaching. The Sustainable Livelihood Approach Framework was selected as the basis for assessments of existing Assets, the Vulnerability Context, Structures, Processes, and Livelihood Strategies. By drawing on rare empirical data from local communities in the TIWS, the study also provides unique insights into current practices of illegal wildlife trade as a result of livelihood constraints and a lack of enforcement. In total, 87 respondents were interviewed between November 2018 and June 2019, rating the Assets with 43% for Human Capital, 49% for Natural Capital, 19% for Financial Capital, 49% for Physical Capital, and 46% for Social Capital for the entirety of TIWS, with 100% signifying complete availability and access to these assets. However, these values differed significantly among the islands. On average, Taganak Island displayed the strongest and Lihiman Island the weakest conditions. The widest gaps were identified for Financial Capital. Current livelihood strategies identified were fishing and small-scale trade, with a high potential for eco-tourism as an alternative livelihood, as the year-round nesting of green turtles makes the TIWS a prime turtle watching site. The results of the Anonymous Survey revealed that the illegal turtle egg trade is still on-going, driven by poverty. Numerous recommendations were given per Asset on how to close identified gaps in basic services in the long-term, of which many have great potential to be turned into livelihoods. This study contributes to the literature on sustainable livelihood development in combination with marine turtle conservation and combating illegal wildlife trade, and serves the replication of the assessment in similar remote archipelagic settings in the future.

Who has influence?: The role of trust and communication in the conservation of flatback turtles in Western Australia

Conservation programs are traditionally built on an understanding of the ecology and biology of the animal and plant species they aim to protect. They also frequently rely on the engagement of stakeholders to positively influence program outcomes. Trust and clear communication between the managers, decision-makers, and the different stakeholders is considered key to program success. Here we describe the relationships between influence, trust, and communication within a large-scale collaborative marine turtle (Natator depressus) conservation program in Western Australia. Based on interview data, we find that trust vested in individuals (rather than in their role) across the network of people is essential. Trusted individuals have a greater perceived ability to influence turtle conservation program outcomes. High levels of trust and frequent meaningful communication go together. Communication is critical in working across the large remote region in Western Australia and in nurturing connections to Indigenous groups and industry. Nevertheless, individuals who were less trusted by others in the networks can also exert influence through the formal role they have in the program, or wield personal influence, and thus be integral in planning and goal setting to achieve program goals. Our results also show that in the case of flatback turtles, Indigenous groups have significantly more personal influence on program goals and success than any other stakeholder groups. Our study shows that investing in building relationships and trust between a network of stakeholders is an integral and essential part of reaching goals and achieving outcomes in marine conservation programs. Direct communication has a positive impact and helps build these trusted relationships. For conservation managers, developing trusted relationships with stakeholders should stand alongside developing ecologically sustainable pathways to species conservation. The greatest chance of improving future conservation outcomes is when trusted stakeholder relationships and ecological solutions are considered together.

A Systematic Review of Acoustic Telemetry as a Tool to Gain Insights Into Marine Turtle Ecology and Aid Their Conservation

While widely applied in fisheries science, acoustic telemetry remains an underutilized method in the field of marine turtle biotelemetry. However, with the ability to provide fine-scale spatial data (tens to hundreds of meters, depending on array setup and receiver range) at a low cost, acoustic telemetry presents an important tool for obtaining key information on marine turtle ecology. We present a comprehensive and systematic review acknowledging how acoustic telemetry has been used to advance the field of marine turtle ecology and conservation. We identify the extent of current studies and discuss common and novel research approaches while addressing specific limitations of acoustic telemetry. Forty-eight studies were reviewed, representing six of the seven marine turtle species and all life stages, with most individuals identified as juveniles (45%) and hatchlings (36%). Most studies (83%) focused on the spatial distribution of marine turtles, including estimating home ranges, investigating drivers of habitat use, and identifying horizontal movement patterns and vertical space use. Additionally, acoustic telemetry has been used to study hatchling dispersal and marine turtle exposure and response to threats, as well as to monitor physiological parameters. We identified that acoustic telemetry directly or indirectly informs 60% of the top questions and research priorities related to marine turtles identified by experts in the field. With an increase in acoustic telemetry receiver networks and collaborations across taxa, the applicability of acoustic telemetry is growing, not only for marine turtles but for a wide array of marine species. Although there are limitations that need to be considered at a site/project-level, acoustic telemetry is an important, low-cost technology able to address key questions related to marine turtle ecology that can aid in their conservation, and therefore should be considered by researchers as they develop their projects.

Reading the Entanglements of Nature-culture Conservation and Development in Contemporary India

In this article we argue for greater attention to the practice of (nature-culture) conservation as a specific form of intervention with implications for development. Outlining the dominant frameworks through which the often vexed relationship between conservation and development has been understood, the article offers an alternative analytical framework that is grounded in ethnographic attention to everyday practice. Applying this framework, the three papers in this special section examine conservation-development dilemmas at diverse conservation sites in India—Rushikulya, Orissa, a globally significant site for the conservation of marine turtles; Nagarahole, in southern Karnataka, one of India’s most successful tiger reserves; and the Hampi region, northern Karnataka, where the archaeological remains of the medieval Vijayanagara Empire have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). The papers reveal a relationship between conservation and development that is paradoxically both more structurally imbricated and more contingent and variable than a focus on official frameworks, discourses and plans would suggest. They lead us to argue that, rather than focusing on the stated objectives of the formal conservation plan alone, attention to its ambivalent adoptions and unintended outcomes, as well as to negotiations between diverse actors and forms of knowledge, can contribute to both a more balanced theorization of conservation’s relation to development as well as to more effective conservation practices.

Frenemies: Marine Turtle Conservation and Economic Development in the Rushikulya Coast, Eastern India

The discourse on biodiversity conservation often presents this domain as an antithesis to economic development. However, in practice, the relation between conservation and development is far more complex because conservationists possess limited powers and must give serious consideration to the economic aspirations of others in any given region, such as local communities and industries. Moreover, conservationists are themselves a heterogeneous group with diverse ways of working. Therefore, although the relation between conservation and development is often described in binary terms such as conflict—co-operation, this does not adequately capture the nuances and dilemmas of actual conservation practice. In this article, I present an ethnographic study of marine turtle conservation in Rushikulya (eastern India), to argue that the relation between the two domains is essentially ambivalent and uncertain and hence, best understood as one of being ‘frenemies’ i.e. friendly enemies, rather than as allies or antagonists. From fieldwork conducted over three years (2012–2015), I describe how actors in both domains opportunistically borrow tools and concepts from each other, which blurs the boundaries between them and results in both connections and contestations. To conclude, I suggest we need more ethnographic studies to understand the realities of practice and provoke reflection on current approaches to both conservation and development.

Heavy metals contaminants in the eggs and temperatures of nesting beaches of sea turtles in Kaimana, West Papua, Indonesia

Abstract. Tapilatu RF, Wona H, Siburian RHS, Saleda ST. 2020. Heavy metals contaminants in the eggs and temperatures of nesting beaches of sea turtles in Kaimana, West Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 4582-4590. Etna Bay and Venu Island in Kaimana, West Papua, Indonesia are two of many areas that sea turtles use during the nesting season. Here, we report data on heavy metals contaminants from a sample of eggs of green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles collected from a subset of two nests during the 2016 nesting season at Venu Island, Kaimana, West Papua, Indonesia. Three heavy metals contaminants (i.e. mercury, cadmium, arsenic) found in eggs exceeded the established safety limits for human consumption. Other contaminants such as lead, zinc, manganese, iron, and copper were found below the established safety standards. There is an implication of the containment of heavy metals in sea turtle eggs to human health in Kaimana when it is consumed. It is highly recommended that the harvesting of turtle eggs and adults of all of sea turtles at Kaimana be totally prohibited. In addition, overall, beach temperatures in Lakahia fluctuated at a larger range between 26.5o and 33.8oC than at Venu island that fluctuated between 25.9o and 30.2oC. Mean daily temperatures of in-situ nests during the middle third of the incubation period were above the pivotal temperature of 29.0oC for temperature-dependent sex determination suggesting a female bias may already exist. The chemical contamination found in the eggs of C. mydas and E. imbricata at Venu Island is thought to assist sea turtle conservation initiatives in the area. The conservation program at the prime nesting habitat for green and hawksbill turtles on the small islands west of Kaimana such as Venu Island should be intensified to reverse the decline and increase population size of nesting sea turtle species. It is recommended that education and outreach be implemented in surrounding communities in Kaimana to raise awareness about marine turtle conservation.

Exploring connections among the multiple outputs and outcomes emerging from 25 years of sea turtle conservation in Northern Cyprus

Monitoring and evaluation is an essential stage of conservation implementation, offering a wide variety of benefits including the ability to engage in informed adaptive management. Understanding the relationship among actions, outputs, and outcomes can inform on factors acting to facilitate or hinder conservation success. Assessing these relationships is particularly important for projects with both social and ecological objectives given that they likely operate through a more complex theory of change. Performance measurement studies that assess both ecological and social variables can offer an informative and cost-effective evaluation method for such projects, but simultaneous social-ecological evaluation is rarely implemented. Using the case study of the Marine Turtle Conservation Project in North Cyprus, we aimed to demonstrate how social-ecological performance measure protocols can aid sea turtle conservation efforts in adaptive management through informing on connections among project actions, outputs, and outcomes. Our study employed a mixed-methods performance measurement approach integrating three distinct data sources: 31 project publications, the project’s long-term dataset on sea turtle ecology, and 26 semi-structured interviews with key informants including residents, fishermen, local business owners, and project staff. The results indicated that the project has generated a wide range of social, economic, and ecological outcomes. Two primary connections among social and ecological factors emerged: 1) bridging the research-implementation gap through directing research into policy action and 2) enhanced operational capacity and achievement of ecological outcomes through extensively engaging with the community and generating local economic benefits. Insufficient government enforcement and a lack of widespread behavioural change on turtle nesting beaches were primary barriers. This study highlights the benefits of multi-disciplinary conservation and demonstrates the insight that can be gained from rapid, social-ecological performance measurement approaches. Channelling such information back into conservation through adaptive management can serve to both increase the achievement of ecological goals and improve human wellbeing.

Comparative osteology and osteometry of the coracoideum, humerus, and femur of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

AbstractFragmented skeletal remains of marine turtles occur frequently in archaeological and natural deposits on tropical and subtropical coasts. Identifying these remains to species based on their differential osteomorphology is vital to address questions pertaining to the historical ecology, archaeology, and conservation of marine turtles globally. Although the species‐specific features of extant marine turtle skulls and carapax are relatively well known, the comparative osteomorphology and osteometry of postcranial endoskeletons in closely related species of marine turtles remains unstudied. In this paper, we provide verbal descriptions, line drawings, and photographs of diagnostic morphological criteria for the coracoideum, the humerus, and the femur of two closely related species of Cheloniidae: Chelonia mydas (green turtle) and Caretta caretta (loggerhead), based on observations on modern skeletons. We also present osteometric indices of the humerus and the femur that can be used to distinguish between both species. We comment on the applicability of these criteria on archaeological marine turtle assemblages from the Mediterranean.

Improving marine turtle conservation in Myanmar

Improving marine turtle conservation in Myanmar