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INJURY ANALYSIS OF LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES (DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA) NESTING ON NORTHERN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, USA BEACHES

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Date Issued:
2021
Summary:
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is facing global declines; however, the Florida stock is generally increasing. Various studies have identified threats to sea turtles, but there is a need to quantify population-level threats. I used external examination and blood analyses of leatherbacks nesting on northern Palm Beach County, Florida beaches to understand the impact(s) that physical injuries have on this population. Notable injuries were present on 118 of 167 (70.7%) turtles. Fisheries injuries were more prevalent than other anthropogenic injuries; however, there was a higher overall prevalence of natural injuries. There were no notable findings from my blood analyses. My results suggest that while natural injuries are more common than anthropogenic injuries in the nesting population of Florida leatherbacks, anthropogenic injuries are more likely to result in severe traumatic wounds. Future investigation of overlap in leatherback migratory routes and foraging grounds with various threats could further protect this species.
Title: INJURY ANALYSIS OF LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES (DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA) NESTING ON NORTHERN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, USA BEACHES.
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Name(s): Klingshirn, Skyler, author
Page-Karjian, Annie, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Department of Marine Science and Oceanography
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2021
Date Issued: 2021
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 70 p
Language(s): English
Summary: The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is facing global declines; however, the Florida stock is generally increasing. Various studies have identified threats to sea turtles, but there is a need to quantify population-level threats. I used external examination and blood analyses of leatherbacks nesting on northern Palm Beach County, Florida beaches to understand the impact(s) that physical injuries have on this population. Notable injuries were present on 118 of 167 (70.7%) turtles. Fisheries injuries were more prevalent than other anthropogenic injuries; however, there was a higher overall prevalence of natural injuries. There were no notable findings from my blood analyses. My results suggest that while natural injuries are more common than anthropogenic injuries in the nesting population of Florida leatherbacks, anthropogenic injuries are more likely to result in severe traumatic wounds. Future investigation of overlap in leatherback migratory routes and foraging grounds with various threats could further protect this species.
Identifier: FA00013743 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (MS)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Dermochelys coriacea
Leatherback turtle--Florida
Injury
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013743
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.