Skip to main content

Management strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on sea turtle’s terrestrial reproductive phase

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change volume 17, pages 51–63 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Climate change poses a serious threat to sea turtles (Cheloniidae) as their terrestrial reproductive phase is only successful within a limited range of environmental and physical conditions. These conditions are likely to become less optimal as climate change progresses. To date, management and conservation of sea turtles has focused almost entirely on non-climatic stressors, due at least in part to practitioners not knowing what strategies to take and the feasibility and risks of potential strategies. To aid the management of sea turtles in a changing environment, we identified management strategies via a focus workshop and surveys to mitigate the impacts of climate change to the terrestrial reproductive phase of sea turtles. The effectiveness, ecological risks and potential social and logistical constraints associated with implementing each of the identified management strategies is discussed. Twenty management strategies were identified; strategies varied from habitat protection to more active and direct manipulation of nests and the nesting environment. Based on our results, we suggest a three-pronged approach to sea turtle conservation in light of climate change, where managers and researchers should: 1) enhance sea turtle resilience to climate change by mitigating other threats; 2) prioritise implementing the ‘no regret’ and ‘reversible’ management strategies identified here; and 3) fill the knowledge gaps identified to aid the trial and implementation of the potential strategies identified here. By combining these three approaches our collective toolkit of sea turtle management strategies will expand, giving us an array of viable approaches to implement as climate change impacts become more extreme.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Ali A, Talib Z, Isa MM, Razak SS et al (2004) A guide to set up and manage sea turtles hatcheries in the Southeast Asian region. Marine Fishery Resources, Development and Management Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre, p 60

  • Baker-Gallegos J, Fish MR, Drews C (2009) Temperature monitoring manual: guidelines for monitoring sand and incubation temperatures on sea turtle nesting beaches. WWF report, San José, p 20

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker T, Bashmakov I, Bernstein L et al (2007) Technical summary. In: Metz B, Davidson OR, Bosch PR, Dave R, Meyer LA (eds) Climate change 2007: mitigation. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA

  • Brander K (2008) Tackling the old familiar problems of pollution habitat alteration and overfishing will help with adapting to climate change. Mar Pollut Bull 56:1957–1958

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brock KA, Reece JS, Ehrhart LM (2009) The effects of artificial beach nourishment on marine turtles: the difference between loggerhead and green turtles. Restor Ecol 17:297–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broderick AC, Godley BJ, Hays GC (2001) Metabolic heating and the prediction of sex ratios for green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Physiol Biochem Zool 74:161–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clem T, Clevo W (2001) Wildlife-based tourism and increased support for nature conservation financially and otherwise: evidence from sea turtle ecotourism at Mon Repos. Tourism Econ 7:233–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Environment Australia (2003) Recovery plan for marine turtle in Australia Commonwealth of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish MR, Cote IM, Gill JA et al (2005) Predicting the impact of sea level rise on Caribbean sea turtle nesting habitat. Conserv Biol 19:482–491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fish MR, Cote IM, Horrocks JA et al (2008) Construction setback regulations and sea level rise: mitigating sea turtle nesting beach loss. Ocean Coast Manage 51:330–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca A, Drews C (2009) Rising sea level due to climate change at Playa Grande Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica: inundation simulation based on a high resolution digital elevation model and implications for park management. WWF /Stereocarto Report, San José, p 20

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes MMPB, Abbs D (2010) Effects of projected changes in tropical cyclone frequency on sea turtles. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 412:283–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes MMPB, Cinner JE (2010) Using expert opinion to prioritize impacts of climate change on sea turtles’ nesting grounds. J Environ Manage 91:2511–2518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes MMPB, Hamann M, Limpus CJ (2010a) Past current and future thermal profiles for green turtle nesting grounds: implications from climate change. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 383:56–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes MMPB, Limpus CJ, Hamann M et al (2010b) Potential impacts of projected sea level rise to sea turtle rookeries. Aquat Conserv: Mar Freshwat Ecosyst 20:132–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes MMPB, Maynard JA, Guinea M et al (2009) Proxy indicators of sand temperature help project impacts of global warming on sea turtles. Endang Species Res J 9:33–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Girondot M, Fouillet H, Pieau C (1998) Feminizing turtle embryos as a conservation tool. Conserv Biol 12:353–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Girondot M, Tucker AD, Rivalan P et al (2002) Density dependent nest destruction and population fluctuations of Guianan leatherback turtles. Anim Conserv 5:75–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godley BJ, Broderick AC, Downie JR et al (2001) Thermal conditions in nests of loggerhead turtles: further evidence suggesting female skewed sex ratios of hatchling production in the Mediterranean. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 263:45–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grayson J, Hamann M, Marsh H, Ambar S (2010) Options for managing the sustainable use of green turtles: perceptions of Hammond Islanders in Torres Strait. Conservat Soc 8:73–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamann M, Limpus CJ, Read M (2007) Vulnerability of marine reptiles in the Great Barrier Reef to climate change. In: Johnson J, Marshall P (eds) Climate change and the Great Barrier Reef: a vulnerability assessment Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Australian Greenhouse OfficeTownsville, pp 466–496

  • Hamann H, Godfrey MH, Seminoff JA et al (2010) Global research priorities for sea turtles: informing management and conservation in the 21st century. Endang Species Res 11:245–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamann M, Sutherland L, Loban F et al (2008) Hot water for marine reptiles: research into sea turtles and climate change. Wildlife Australia 45:12–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen L, Hoffman J, Drews C et al (2009) Designing climate smart conservation guidance and case studies. Conserv Biol 24:63–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes LA, Broderick AC, Godfrey MH et al (2007) Investigating the potential impacts of climate change on a marine turtle population. Glob Change Biol 13:923–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes LA, Broderick AC, Godfrey MH et al (2009) Climate change and marine turtles. Endang Species Res 7:137–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heller NE, Zavaleta ES (2009) Biodiversity management in the face of climate change: a review of 22 years of recommendations. Biol Conserv 142:14–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hykle D (2009) International conservation treaties. In: Eckert KL, Bjorndal KA, Abreu-Grobois FA, Donnelly M (eds) Research and management techniques for the conservation of sea turtles IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication, Washington DC, pp 228–232

  • Johannes RE, Mcfarlane JW (1991) Traditional fishing on the Torres Strait islands. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, p 30

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamel SJ, Mrosovsky N (2006) Deforastation: risk of sex ratio distortion in hawksbill sea turtles. Ecol Appl 16:923–931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keith DA, Martin TG, McDonald-Madden E et al (2011) Uncertainty and adaptive management for biodiversity conservation. Biol Conserv 144:1175–1178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koch V, Nichols WJ, Peckham H et al (2006) Estimates of sea turtle mortality from poaching and bycatch in Bahía Magdalena Baja California Sur Mexico. Biol Conserv 128:327–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lutcavage M, Plotkin P, Witherington B et al (1997) Human impacts on sea turtle survival. In: Lutz P, Musick J (eds) The biology of sea turtles, vol 1. CRC Press Inc, Boca Raton, pp 387–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattock N (2010) Raine island climate change adaptation plan (Draft) 2010. Unpublished internal draft working paper of the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments, Townsville, p 89

  • Mazaris AD, Mastinos G, Pantis JD (2009) Evaluating the impacts of coastal squeeze on sea turtle nesting. Ocean Coast Manage 52:139–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JD (1985) Embryology of marine turtles. In: Gans C, Billett F, Maderson PFA (eds) Biology of the reptilia, vol 14. Wiley Interscience, New York, pp 269–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Milton SL, Schulman AA, Lutz PL (1997) The effect of beach nourishment with aragonite versus silicate sand on beach temperature and loggerhead sea turtle nesting success. J Coastal Res 13:904–915

    Google Scholar 

  • Milton SL, Leonekabler S, Schulman AA et al (1994) Effects of hurricane Andrew on the sea turtle nesting beaches of south Florida. B Mar Sci 54:974–981

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran KL, Bjorndal KA (2005) Simulated green turtle grazing affects structure and productivity of seagrass pastures. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 305:235–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan RC (2007) Property of spirits: hereditary and global value of sea turtles in Fiji. Hum Organ 66:60–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer JA (1999) Reducing threats to eggs and hatchlings: hatcheries. In: Eckert KL, BjorndalKA, Abreu-Grobois FA, Donnelly M (eds) Research and management techniques for the conservation of sea turtles IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication, Washington DC, pp 175–179

  • Mrosovsky N (2006) Distorting gene pools by conservation: assessing the case of doomed turtle eggs. Environ Manage 38:523–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mrosovsky N (2008) Against oversimplifying the issues on relocating turtle eggs. Environ Manage 41:465–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mrosovsky N, Yntema CL (1980) Temperature dependence of sexual differentiation in sea turtles: implications for conservation practices. Biol Conserv 18:271–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naro-Maciel N, Mrosovsky N, Marcovaldi MA (1999) Thermal profiles of sea turtle hatcheries and nesting areas at Praia do Forte Brazil. Chelonian Conserv Bi 3:407–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP et al (2007) Technical Summary. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA

  • Pike DA (2008) The benefits of nest relocation extend far beyond recruitment: a rejoinder to Mrosovsky. Environ Manage 41:461–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pike DA, Stiner JC (2007) Sea turtles species vary their susceptibility to tropical cyclones. Oecologia 153:1432–1939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pintus K, Godley BJ, McGowan A et al (2009) Impact of clutch relocation on green turtle offspring. J Wildl Manage 73:1151–1157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poloczanska ES, Limpus CJ, Hays GC (2009) Vulnerability of marine turtles to climate change. Adv Mar Bio 56:151–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard PCH (1980) The conservation of sea turtles: practices and problems. Am Zool 20:609–617

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizkalla CE, Savage A (2011) Impact of seawalls on loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting and hatching success. J Coastal Res 27:166–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson RA, Crick H, Learmonth LA (2009) Travelling through a warming world: climate change and migratory species. Endang Species Res 7:87–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rumbold DG, Davis PW, Perretta C (2001) Estimating the effect of beach nourishment on Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle) nesting. Restor Ecol 9:304–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shanker K, Choudhury BC, Andrews HV (2003) Sea turtle conservation: beach management and hatchery programs. A GOIUNDP Project manual Centre for herpetology Madras Crocodile Bank trust Mamallapuram, Tamil, Nadu, India

  • Shaver DJ (2005) Analysis of the Kemp:s ridley imprinting and headstart project at Padre Island National SeashoreTexas 1978–88 with subsequent nesting and stranding records on the Texas coast. Chelonian Conserv Bi 4:846–859

    Google Scholar 

  • Spotila JR, Reina RD, Steyermark AC et al (2000) Pacific leatherback turtles face extinction. Nature 405:529–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinitz MJ, Salmon M, Wyneken J (1998) Beach renourishment and loggerhead turtle reproduction: a seven year study at Jupiter Island Florida. J Coastal Res 14:1000–1013

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer GW, Engel DW, Bjorndal KA (1982) Evidence for short: circuiting of the detritus cycle of seagrass beds by the green turtle Chelonia mydas. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 62:173–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari M, Bjorndal AK, Bolten BA et al (2006) Evaluation of density dependent processes and green turtle Chelonia mydas hatchling production at Tortuguero Costa Rica. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 326:283–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Türkozan O, Yılmaz C (2007) Nest relocation as a conservation strategy: looking from a different perspective. Marine Turtle Newsletter 118:6–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuttle J, Rostal D (2010) Effects of nest relocation on nest temperature and embryonic development of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Chelonian Conserv Bi 9:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Merwe J, Ibrahim K, Whittier J (2006) Effects of nest depth shading and metabolic heating on nest temperatures in sea turtle hatcheries. Chelonian Conserv Bi 5:210–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Houtan KS, Bass OL (2007) Stormy oceans are associated with declines in sea turtle hatching. Curr Biol 17:R590–R591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson C, Tisdell C (2001) Sea turtles as a non-consumptive tourism resource especially in Australia. Tourism Manage 22:279–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witherington B, Hirama S, Mosier A (2011) Sea turtle responses to barriers on their nesting beach. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 401:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witt MJ, Hawkes LA, Godfrey MH et al (2010) Predicting the impacts of climate change on a globally distributed species: the case of the loggerhead turtle. J Exp Biol 213:901–911

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was made possible by grants to the first and second author, respectively, from the Australian Research Council and the MacArthur Foundation and by funding and logistical support provided by the World Wildlife Fund. The authors are indebted to participants in the workshop, all of whom provided either insight during the workshop and/or critical feedback on this manuscript. The authors also thank all survey respondents, M. Hamann and C. Limpus for discussions that contributed to the content presented here and D. Tracey for collaborating with our group on the results tables. Surveys complied with the current laws of Australia and all permits necessary for the project were obtained (JCU Human Ethics H3377). This is a contribution by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, Queensland, Australia

    M. M. P. B. Fuentes

  2. WWF Canada, Suite 1588–409 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2, Canada

    M. R. Fish

  3. Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia

    J. A. Maynard

Authors
  1. M. M. P. B. Fuentes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. R. Fish
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. A. Maynard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. M. P. B. Fuentes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fuentes, M.M.P.B., Fish, M.R. & Maynard, J.A. Management strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on sea turtle’s terrestrial reproductive phase. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 17, 51–63 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-011-9308-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-011-9308-8

Keywords

  • Adaptive management
  • Climate change
  • Conservation
  • Sea turtles
  • Management strategies