191
graphic parameters, through mark recapture studies, and track turtle movements
(Bjorndal 2011).
As time passed by, the use of new technologies enabled many advances in our
understanding of sea turtle biology. The ability to collect fine-scale spatio-temporal
location data on wide ranging species such as sea turtles is a great example. So far
hundreds of satellite transmitters have been attached on sea turtles around the world
which has allowed us to know fascinating facts about navigation, and the threedimensional use of the ocean environment. Advances in tagging technology, such as
tag miniaturization, have also enabled attachment of smaller tags to young animals
providing important insights about early life stages. Molecular analyses turned to be an
essential tool mainly to identify the natal origin of individuals and define management
units for conservation. Hence, the integration of genetic data and telemetry have provided significant information on the distribution and migratory patterns of sea turtles
highlighting the importance of international cooperation to protect these species.
Climate change threatens to alter the world in unpredictable ways, and globally
migrating marine turtles are no exception. Potential consequences of global warming include a reduction in effective population size, the inability to find mates leading to reduced fecundity or female infertility, and under more extreme climate
projections, the potential for production of single sex cohorts (Hawkes et al. 2009).
These changes are likely to reduce the viability of turtle populations. Thus, it is
crucial to understand both the male/female ratio necessary to sustain populations
and the turtles’ capacity to adapt to increases in temperature.
Even after decades of research, there are still many unanswered questions about
sea turtles’ natural history. These species are difficult to study due to their complex
lives and elusive behaviors. For instance, it is difficult to find the animals in their
early life stage since they span vast oceanic areas and encounters with males are
very rare because they never leave the water.
The scientific community understanding of sea turtle ecology and the conservation
strategies necessary for turtles’ survival has progressed substantially over the years.
Advances in technology are gradually revealing the secret lives of sea turtles, especially during cryptic life stages. However, the continued use of simple methods of
research such as beach surveys and constant informal oral communication are still
considered among the most valuable techniques for successfully studying sea turtles.
References
Almeida AP, Eckert SA, Bruno SC, Scalfoni JT, Giffoni B, López-Mendilaharsu M, Thomé JCA
(2011) Satellite-tracked movements of female Dermochelys coriacea from southeastern Brazil.
Endanger Species Res 15:77–86. doi:10.3354/esr00359
Bjorndal KA (2011) Introduction to the 2011 reissue of the book So Excellent a Fishe by Archie
Carr. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, pp XI–XXI
Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, Moreira L, Belini C, Marcovaldi MA (2006) Population structure and
diversity of Brazilian green turtle rookeries based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Chelonian
Conserv Biol 5:262–268. doi:10.2744/1071-8443(2006)5[262:PSADOB]2.0.CO;2
7 Novel Research Techniques Provide New Insights to the Sea Turtle Life Cycle
graphic parameters, through mark recapture studies, and track turtle movements
(Bjorndal 2011).
As time passed by, the use of new technologies enabled many advances in our
understanding of sea turtle biology. The ability to collect fine-scale spatio-temporal
location data on wide ranging species such as sea turtles is a great example. So far
hundreds of satellite transmitters have been attached on sea turtles around the world
which has allowed us to know fascinating facts about navigation, and the threedimensional use of the ocean environment. Advances in tagging technology, such as
tag miniaturization, have also enabled attachment of smaller tags to young animals
providing important insights about early life stages. Molecular analyses turned to be an
essential tool mainly to identify the natal origin of individuals and define management
units for conservation. Hence, the integration of genetic data and telemetry have provided significant information on the distribution and migratory patterns of sea turtles
highlighting the importance of international cooperation to protect these species.
Climate change threatens to alter the world in unpredictable ways, and globally
migrating marine turtles are no exception. Potential consequences of global warming include a reduction in effective population size, the inability to find mates leading to reduced fecundity or female infertility, and under more extreme climate
projections, the potential for production of single sex cohorts (Hawkes et al. 2009).
These changes are likely to reduce the viability of turtle populations. Thus, it is
crucial to understand both the male/female ratio necessary to sustain populations
and the turtles’ capacity to adapt to increases in temperature.
Even after decades of research, there are still many unanswered questions about
sea turtles’ natural history. These species are difficult to study due to their complex
lives and elusive behaviors. For instance, it is difficult to find the animals in their
early life stage since they span vast oceanic areas and encounters with males are
very rare because they never leave the water.
The scientific community understanding of sea turtle ecology and the conservation
strategies necessary for turtles’ survival has progressed substantially over the years.
Advances in technology are gradually revealing the secret lives of sea turtles, especially during cryptic life stages. However, the continued use of simple methods of
research such as beach surveys and constant informal oral communication are still
considered among the most valuable techniques for successfully studying sea turtles.
References
Almeida AP, Eckert SA, Bruno SC, Scalfoni JT, Giffoni B, López-Mendilaharsu M, Thomé JCA
(2011) Satellite-tracked movements of female Dermochelys coriacea from southeastern Brazil.
Endanger Species Res 15:77–86. doi:10.3354/esr00359
Bjorndal KA (2011) Introduction to the 2011 reissue of the book So Excellent a Fishe by Archie
Carr. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, pp XI–XXI
Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, Moreira L, Belini C, Marcovaldi MA (2006) Population structure and
diversity of Brazilian green turtle rookeries based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Chelonian
Conserv Biol 5:262–268. doi:10.2744/1071-8443(2006)5[262:PSADOB]2.0.CO;2
7 Novel Research Techniques Provide New Insights to the Sea Turtle Life Cycle