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SCCF Biologists Present Research at International Sea Turtle Symposium
Members of the Coastal Wildlife team presented research related to beach renourishment and travel to feeding grounds last week at the 44th International Sea Turtle Symposium in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
This symposium, held annually by the International Sea Turtle Society, brings the sea turtle community together to celebrate achievements, commitments, and successes worldwide. Workshops are held, research is presented, and ideas are shared, all with the focus on sea turtle conservation.
The theme of this year’s symposium was “Kaiāulu” — a Hawaiian word that translates to “Community.” In a video about the event, the theme is explained as “how saving sea turtles isn’t just about science, it’s about community — cultures who have lived alongside them for generations, and communities that stand in the fight for their future.”
Coastal Wildlife staff often attend this annual symposium. This year, three biologists represented SCCF.
“It’s very insightful to share our research with peers from around the world. And, to learn about conservation challenges and successes from fellow biologists. This year, there were 700 participants and 55 coastal countries represented,” said SCCF Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan.
This year’s theme resonated with Sanibel and Captiva’s values of sanctuary island and community.
“We are proud to represent a community that embraces sea turtle conservation with one of the longest-running monitoring programs in the U.S.,” said Sloan.
SCCF Presentations: Hatch Success & Travel to Feeding Grounds
Sloan presented research examining how beach renourishment influences the incubation environment and hatch success of loggerhead sea turtle nests.
Beach renourishment, widely used to combat coastal erosion, has been conducted island-wide on Captiva since 1988 and on Sanibel for the first time in 2023.
“Our results indicate that hatch success declines substantially following these projects. One key factor appears to be beach elevation,” said Sloan. “When nourished beaches are constructed higher than natural beach profiles, nests tend to experience hotter and drier incubation conditions.”
Those changes can negatively affect embryonic development and reduce the likelihood that hatchlings successfully emerge.
“Understanding these important shifts can help inform future project design to balance shoreline protection with sea turtle reproductive success,” she added.
Osprey Coordinator Amanda Manrique, who previously worked with SCCF as a sea turtle biologist, presented the effects of beach renourishment on embryonic development of loggerheads (Caretta caretta), showing how nests laid on renourished beaches had an increased probability of later-stage embryonic death than nests laid on non-nourished beaches.
“This could suggest that incubation environments on renourished beaches can sustain early development but become more restrictive as metabolic demand rises in later-stage embryos,” said Manrique.
Sea Turtle Biologist Savannah Weber presented research on how loggerhead and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) travel from their nesting beaches in Southwest Florida to their feeding grounds.
“The results showed that green turtles often stop along the way to feed, while loggerhead turtles usually travel more directly without stopping,” said Weber.
Dive data from three loggerheads (satellite-tagged just last season) also showed that their diving behavior changes once they reach their feeding habitat — shifting from frequent, deeper dives during travel to fewer, shallower dives while feeding and resting.
“This work helps us better understand how sea turtles use the ocean and maximize energy, which is important as ocean conditions continue to change,” she added.