Page 75 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #10
P. 75
as protection. Later, after the babies have
all hatched and left, we excavate the nests,
which means we take out the eggshells and
everything else for examination.”
How many eggs hatched, how many
didn’t, the number of dead hatchings and
other details are all duly noted. Nests are
also carefully excavated if a predator such as
a raccoon or domestic dog has raided them,
thereby gathering valuable information about
Clockwise from behind); feeding
the impact of predation. The hatchlings are
top left: volunteers a saved hatchling
never handled by the volunteers. fence of a new at Mote Marine
Pete uses his professional expertise to nest; the team Laboratory and
compile and report all the data collected. always excavates Aquarium – once
nests 72 hours it can dive and
In the USA, national and local authorities
after they hatch compete for food
enforce wildlife management policies. These (and, in this case, it will be released.
government agencies set data collection rescue hatchlings Below left: flags
requirements and provide mandatory that were left mark turtle nests.
training, controlling all of these activities
through a permitting process.
Swimming frenzy
Throughout the state of Florida, there are
approximately 150 turtle monitoring permits,
with permit holders coordinating local years in the Azores, off the coast of Portugal. says. “When you collaborate and share that
activities. Suzi holds four permits and works Eventually reaching sexual maturity at 25–35 information with really good people it is
closely with Pete to make sure their data years, they return to the beaches where they brilliant for conservation.”
includes all of the necessary information hatched in order to reproduce. “The males Mote has its own turtle nest monitoring
before submitting it to the state-wide nesting never leave the water and females only come programme on the mainland, responsible
database maintained by the Florida Fish and out to nest,” Pete says. “The turtles’ whole for beaches south of Anna Maria Island. But
Wildlife Conservation Commission. life-history is just incredible.” the partnership includes all things sea-turtle-
After 45 years working for a computer But global warming is threatening this related. If a member of the public calls Mote
science company, why is Pete still geeking ancient life-cycle. Higher temperatures mean about a stranded turtle, AMI volunteers are
out with technology when he’s living in a hotter sand. The warmer, upper portion of a quick to respond. When a sick or injured
tropical paradise? I had to ask. His answer sea-turtle nest produces females, while the turtle is found on the island, they work with
reflects the awe in which he holds one of the cooler portion at the bottom produces males. Mote to get it to the aquarium for treatment.
planet’s few remaining dinosaurs. The female-to-male ratios used to be 1:1, but This intervention can include ‘washbacks’ –
“What’s amazing to me is these little recent studies reveal that nests on many baby turtles that don’t make it safely to the
hatchlings weigh around 21g and fit into nesting beaches now result in 90 per cent seagrass beds and are pushed back to shore
the palm of your hand. When they struggle female and 10 per cent male turtles. by waves, too weak to try again.
out of their nest, they head straight for the AMI collaborates with the Mote Marine
water,” he says. “They then swim against the Laboratory and Aquarium in mainland Satellite tagging
oncoming waves, and beyond the waves Florida as a way to expand what they When the body of a dead adult Kemp’s
they use the Earth’s magnetic field to do to help sea turtles. Gretchen ridley (the rarest species found here) was
navigate. And they swim in a frenzy for Lovewell, a marine biologist discovered, Suzi asked Gretchen if she
24 hours, making a beeline for some who serves as Program wanted to carry out a necropsy. Of course!
seagrass beds 25km offshore.” Manager for Stranding A wealth of biological information can be
As they grow, the turtles ride Investigations, gushes gleaned from such a procedure. Satellite
the currents around the southern praise for Suzi and the tags also provide invaluable information
end of the Florida peninsula and walkers. “They’re collecting about turtles after they leave a beach. AMI
across the Atlantic Ocean, with really important data and are volunteers hosted Mote biologists on the
many spending their juvenile wonderful to work with,” she island during the 2018 nesting season in
October 2018 BBC Wildlife 75
