A5044012043- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Marine animal studies overview
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques
- Marine and fisheries research
- Botany and Geology in Latin America and Caribbean
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Date Palm Research Studies
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Geographies of human-animal interactions
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
Instituto Español de Oceanografía
2024-2025
Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies
2014-2023
Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies
2023
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
2014-2022
Guanacaste Conservation Area
2017-2020
Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne
2013-2015
Drexel University
2006-2014
Abstract Temperature‐dependent sex determination (TSD) is the predominant form of environmental (ESD) in reptiles, but adaptive significance TSD this group remains unclear. Additionally, viability species with may be compromised as climate gets warmer. We simulated population responses a turtle to increasing nest temperatures and compared results those virtual genotypic (GSD) fixed ratios. Then, we assessed effectiveness mechanism maintain populations under change scenarios. were more...
Abstract Sea turtles are vulnerable to climate change since their reproductive output is influenced by incubating temperatures, with warmer temperatures causing lower hatching success and increased feminization of embryos. Their ability cope projected increases in ambient will depend on capacity adapt shifts climatic regimes. Here, we assessed the extent which phenological could mitigate impacts from (from 1.5 3°C air 1.4 2.3°C sea surface 2100 at our sites) four species turtles, under a...
Summary Pacific leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea populations have been declining precipitously. It has suggested that fishery‐associated mortality is the leading factor causing decline; however, sensitivity of leatherbacks to climate variability relative their population ecology unknown. We investigated effects interannual variability, as governed by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), on nesting ecology. used equatorial sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly data over various time...
Within 19 years the nesting population of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) at Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas declined from 1500 per year to about 100. We analyzed effects fishery bycatch and illegal harvesting (poaching) eggs on this population. modeled response different levels egg harvest (90, 75, 50, 25%) effect eradicating poaching times during decline. compared 90% with those 20% adult mortality because both these processes were present in Baulas. There was a stepwise...
Egg-burying reptiles need relatively stable temperature and humidity in the substrate surrounding their eggs for successful development hatchling emergence. Here we show that egg mortality of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) northwest Costa Rica were affected by climatic variability (precipitation air temperature) driven El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Drier warmer conditions associated with increased mortality. The fourth assessment report Intergovernmental Panel on Climate...
Increasing sand temperatures resulting from climate change may negatively impact sea turtle nests by altering sex ratios and decreasing reproductive output. We analyzed the effect of nest shading watering on as mitigation strategies in a beach hatchery at Playa Grande, Costa Rica. set up plots placed thermocouples depths 45cm 75cm. Half were shaded half exposed to sun. Within these exposure treatments, we applied three treatments over one month, replicating local climatic conditions...
Fisheries bycatch is a critical source of mortality for rapidly declining populations leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea. We integrated use-intensity distributions 135 satellite-tracked adult turtles with longline fishing effort to estimate predicted risk over space and time in the Pacific Ocean. Areas did not overlap eastern western nesting populations, warranting their consideration as distinct management units respect fisheries bycatch. For we identified several areas high north...
The most recent climate change projections show a global increase in temperatures along with precipitation changes throughout the 21(st) century. However, regional do not always match and species distributions may exhibit varying susceptibility to change. Here we effect of local climatic conditions on hatchling output leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) at four nesting sites encompassing Pacific, Atlantic Indian Oceans. We found heterogeneous climate. Hatchling increased long-term...
The number of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting at Parque Marino Las Baulas declined precipitously in the 15 years that we monitored population (1988–1989 to 2003–2004). We estimate annual survival rate adults was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.75–0.80) and mortality rates for juveniles subadults ocean appear be double those a stable population. proportion hatchlings produced from deposited eggs increased since park established as result conservation practices. Because females decreased,...
Leatherback turtles have an average global hatching success rate of ∼50%, lower than other marine turtle species. Embryonic death has been linked to environmental factors such as precipitation and temperature, although, there is still a lot variability that remains be explained. We examined how nesting season, the time each relative position clutch laid by female maternal identity associated reproductive experience (new nester versus remigrant) period egg retention between clutches...
Abstract Failure to improve the conservation status of endangered species is often related inadequate allocation resources highest priority issues. Eastern Pacific (EP) leatherbacks are perhaps most sea turtle population in world, and continue on a path regional extinction. To provide coherent, targets, we developed viability analysis examined hypothetical scenarios describing effects activities that either reduced mortality or increased production hatchlings (or both). Under quo conditions,...
Abstract Climate change threatens species with temperature-dependent sex determination as further warming could result in extremely biased ratios or offspring of only one sex. Among the possible adaptations sea turtles to climate change, are behavioral responses toward nesting cooler areas. We analyzed patterns East Pacific green ( Chelonia mydas ) Costa Rica determine occurrence nest-site selection and how this influence primary (PSR). Green exhibited repeatability. Nests placed by same...
Climate change can impact regional and global biodiversity for multiple reasons. In sea turtles, changes in local climate at nesting beaches affect egg hatchling survival primary sex ratios. Sea turtles could respond to by occupying new areas. The recent increase sporadic the western Mediterranean may indicate colonization of beaches. We assessed suitability a area, Balearic Islands (∼1500 km from current grounds) as refuge loggerhead (Caretta caretta) under (2015–2017) scenarios mid (+40...
The high probability of being depredated on the crawl to water may have influenced evolutionary processes hatchling sea turtles beach. During this time hatchlings must locate and move as quickly possible in order reduce spent Hatchling leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) at Playa Grande, Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, Costa Rica, average 34 minutes visible beach, covered a distance 46.8 m, moved rate 3.11 m/min. 12% were eaten by predators, 83% reached water, 5% determined potential...
Thermal tolerances are affected by the range of temperatures that species encounter in their habitat. Daniel Janzen hypothesized his "Why mountain passes higher tropics" temperature gradients were effective barriers to animal movements where climatic uniformity was high. Sea turtles bury eggs providing some thermal stability varies with depth. We assessed relationship between and tolerance nests three sea turtles. considered "high" when small changes had comparatively large effects "low"...
Mangrove forests, one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems, are also some difficult to access. This is especially true along Pacific coast Costa Rica, where 99% country’s mangroves occur. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones, have become a convenient tool for natural area assessment, and offer solution problems remote mangrove monitoring. study first use UAS analyze structure forests within Central America. Our goals were (1) determine forest two estuaries in northwestern Rica...
We quantified research trends in the field of sea turtle science by collating data from 30 years abstracts presented annually at International Sea Turtle Symposium – largest scientific symposia focusing exclusively on turtles. From analysis 7370 abstracts, we revealed five key findings: (1) loggerhead and green turtles were studied more than any other species; (2) most least Regional Management Units (RMUs) typically those North Atlantic Indian Ocean respectively; (3) almost half all studies...