169
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
M.R. Rossi-Santos, C.W. Finkl (eds.), Advances in Marine Vertebrate Research
in Latin America, Coastal Research Library 22,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56985-7_7
Chapter 7
Novel Research Techniques Provide New
Insights to the Sea Turtle Life Cycle
Maria Ângela Marcovaldi, Alexsandro S. Santos, Paulo H. Lara,
and Milagros López-Mendilaharsu
Abstract The recent increase in the knowledge of the complex life cycle of sea
turtles in the world has been possible by the use of novel technologies, such as satellite telemetry and molecular analyses. These technological advances have also provided the opportunity to assess future impacts of climate change. In this chapter,
you will find a brief description of these techniques and an overview of the most
relevant results obtained through scientific research of sea turtles in Brazil.
7.1 Introduction
Sea turtles have complex life histories that span many decades, habitats, and kilometers. Their highly migratory behavior makes them a shared resource among
many nations. Similar to other species of marine mega vertebrates, sea turtles are an
important conservation concern as the result of a range of past and ongoing threats.
Direct exploitation (Marcovaldi and Marcovaldi 1999, Frazier 2003), incidental
capture in fisheries (Domingo et al. 2006, Sales et al. 2008), habitat degradation
(Santos et al. 2005, Tourinho et al. 2010) and fluctuating environmental conditions
due to climate change (Hawkes et al. 2009) are among the main threats to sea turtle
populations. Therefore, for an effective mitigation of direct threats, there is an acute
need to understand how these animals use dynamic seascapes (Godley et al. 2008).
Among the seven species of sea turtles found around the world, five of them
occur along the Brazilian coast (Marcovaldi and Marcovaldi 1999). All five species
are threatened and included in the Brazilian Red List of Threatened Species
(ICMBIO 2011), and in Appendix I in the CITES convention (CITES 2016). These
species include the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta; Fig. 7.1a), hawksbill sea
turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata; Fig. 7.1b), olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys
olivacea; Fig. 7.2a), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea; Fig. 7.2b) and
M.Â. Marcovaldi (*) • A.S. Santos • P.H. Lara • M. López-Mendilaharsu
Fundação Pró Tamar, Rua Rubens Guelli, 134 sala 307, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
e-mail: neca@tamar.org.br; alex@tamar.org.br; paulo.lara@tamar.org.br; milagros@tamar.
org.br
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
M.R. Rossi-Santos, C.W. Finkl (eds.), Advances in Marine Vertebrate Research
in Latin America, Coastal Research Library 22,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56985-7_7
Chapter 7
Novel Research Techniques Provide New
Insights to the Sea Turtle Life Cycle
Maria Ângela Marcovaldi, Alexsandro S. Santos, Paulo H. Lara,
and Milagros López-Mendilaharsu
Abstract The recent increase in the knowledge of the complex life cycle of sea
turtles in the world has been possible by the use of novel technologies, such as satellite telemetry and molecular analyses. These technological advances have also provided the opportunity to assess future impacts of climate change. In this chapter,
you will find a brief description of these techniques and an overview of the most
relevant results obtained through scientific research of sea turtles in Brazil.
7.1 Introduction
Sea turtles have complex life histories that span many decades, habitats, and kilometers. Their highly migratory behavior makes them a shared resource among
many nations. Similar to other species of marine mega vertebrates, sea turtles are an
important conservation concern as the result of a range of past and ongoing threats.
Direct exploitation (Marcovaldi and Marcovaldi 1999, Frazier 2003), incidental
capture in fisheries (Domingo et al. 2006, Sales et al. 2008), habitat degradation
(Santos et al. 2005, Tourinho et al. 2010) and fluctuating environmental conditions
due to climate change (Hawkes et al. 2009) are among the main threats to sea turtle
populations. Therefore, for an effective mitigation of direct threats, there is an acute
need to understand how these animals use dynamic seascapes (Godley et al. 2008).
Among the seven species of sea turtles found around the world, five of them
occur along the Brazilian coast (Marcovaldi and Marcovaldi 1999). All five species
are threatened and included in the Brazilian Red List of Threatened Species
(ICMBIO 2011), and in Appendix I in the CITES convention (CITES 2016). These
species include the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta; Fig. 7.1a), hawksbill sea
turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata; Fig. 7.1b), olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys
olivacea; Fig. 7.2a), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea; Fig. 7.2b) and
M.Â. Marcovaldi (*) • A.S. Santos • P.H. Lara • M. López-Mendilaharsu
Fundação Pró Tamar, Rua Rubens Guelli, 134 sala 307, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
e-mail: neca@tamar.org.br; alex@tamar.org.br; paulo.lara@tamar.org.br; milagros@tamar.
org.br