About This Project

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Although a turtle appears healthy, the presence of shell abnormalities can indicate otherwise. Studies have shown that turtles that display these anomalies display lower fitness compared to those who do not. Thus, monitoring the prevalence of these shell abnormalities can provide a proxy to study the health of the overall population. This project will initiate a long-term study that will examine carapace (the top part of the turtle’s shell) abnormalities in hatchlings of the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle at an important nesting beach at Tecolutla, Veracruz, Mexico.

What is the significance of this project?

The Kemp's ridley sea turtle went almost extinct in the 1970s and 1980s. Although it is undergoing a recovery, this species is still considered one of the most endangered sea turtles in the world. The nesting population at Tecolutla is an important population in the southern portion of the Kemp's range. This population has been protected through the immense efforts of Fernando Manzano and his local non-profit organization, Vida Milenaria. However, one of the consequences of the Kemp's ridley near extinction could be low genetic diversity, and this could be manifested in the presence of shell abnormalities in the population. Additionally, these anomalies could be caused by high incubation temperatures, which could be affected in the future by rising beach temperatures.

What are the goals of the project?

This project will initiate a long-term monitoring of shell abnormalities in Kemp's ridley sea turtle hatchlings in the Tecolutla nesting population.

• A subset of hatchlings from the 2014 nesting season will be examined
• Hatchlings from nests which incubation temperatures have been measured will be included