Morning Census Protocol

Transcription

1 Morning Census Protocol Playa Norte Marine Turtle Conservation Click to edit Master subtitle style & Monitoring Programme All photographic images within are property of their copyrights and may only be reproduced with written permission from respective authors.

2 COTERC Marine Turtle Monitoring Project Background Playa Norte (North Beach) 7 km north of Tortuguero Inside the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge 3 1/8 stretch that s monitored Van Oudenhouven 2006

3 COTERC Marine Turtle Monitoring Project q Initial enquiry in 2004 q Feasibility Study conducted in 2006 Assisted by Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) Consistent monitoring since q Reduce poaching rates by being a presence on the beach and by disguising and relocating nests q Educate the local community & tourists about marine turtle conservation

4 Project monitoring aims Gather biometric data on nesting marine turtles Record the spatial and temporal distribution of nesting activity 3. Monitor the number of nests and half moons 4. Monitor hatching and emergence success rates 5. Determine the poaching level of nests and turtles

5 Personal Kit 1-2L of water Sun protection (sun screen, hat, etc.) Recommended Closed-toes shoes Rain protection (poncho) Optional snack Micah Herriot 2007

6 Important Notes The walk should begin at sunrise Avoid walking on top of turtle nests If you see poachers tell the PL, never approach them April Stevens 2009

7 Kit List Radio First aid kit Track information from night before Time, record type, species, GPS & nearest northern mile marker, zone Data book and pencils GPS and extra batteries Camera Plastic gloves

8 General Survey Data For each survey the following is recorded: 1. Date: DD/MM/YYYY 2. Group member initials (PL & EM s) 3. Start and end time (at mile 31/8): 24 hour clock 4. Distance walked = 31/8 April Stevens 2009

9 Morning Census Track Data 5. Check status of nests from past 2 days Record any tracks (half moons & nests) missed by last night s survey teams Rub out all tracks encountered after information is recorded Record any dead turtles Hatchling watch (next slide) 6. Nest excavations (presentation)

10 Hatchling Tracks April Stevens 2009 Hatchling tracks are counted and recorded and traced back to volcano Sticks placed on either side of volcano and GPS coordinates recorded 2 days later nest is excavated Volcano

11 Encountering a track It must be determined if a track was seen the night before or not If it was seen the night before: it should already be either rubbed out or a line put through ascending and descending tracks If it s a new track, identify the species

12 Track Identification Two types; asymmetric & symmetric Leatherbacks & Greens are symmetric Hawksbill & Loggerheads are asymmetric Due to front flipper movement Leatherbacks & Greens pull themselves forward by using their front flippers simultaneously Hawksbills and Loggerheads alternate front flipper use to propel their body forward

13 Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Tony Cocco 2003 Gene Bednarik 2004

14 Green (Chelonia mydas) Kellie Pendoley 2002 Amanda Bryant 2010

15 Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) April Stevens 2007 Micah Herriot 2007

16 Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Alan Rees Lucy Hawkes

17 Track Distinction: Half Moon If there are no signs of nesting, body pit is shallow or with little sand spray Record if turtle attempted to nest Dug egg chamber Image taken & modified from Night Protocol 2009

18 Halfmoon data collection Record type (HLF) Species of turtle GPS & nearest northern mile marker Attempted nest? i.e. Dug an egg chamber but abandoned it

19 Track Distinction: Nest If there is a deep body pit and plenty of sand spray it is deemed a nest When in doubt take plenty of pictures and have others help identifying it Jacey Biery 2008

20 Nest data collection Record type (NST) Species of turtle GPS & nearest northern mile marker Vertical position of the nest (Open, Border, or Vegetation) Status

21 Vertical Position= Zone vegetation border open Image taken & modified from Night Protocol 2009

22 Nest data - Status NATURAL: No evidence of poaching, erosion or predation POACHED: Egg shells and empty egg chamber present UNKNOWN: Inconclusive signs of poaching (no egg shells or cavity present) Footprints, dogprints, stickholes, human-disturbed sand PREDATED: Partial nest excavation, eggs shells scattered near the nest site ERODED: Eggs and/or egg shells scattered randomly by the tide

23 Predated Manjula Tiwari 2004 A group of coatis depredating a green turtle nest in Tortuguero, Costa Rica: Manjula Tiwari 2004

24 Eroded April Stevens 2007 April Stevens 2007

25 Dead Turtles Species, size (CCL & CCW), sex (if possible), state of decomposition and estimated time death Look for obvious causes of death (i.e. poached or natural causes)*photos should be taken* Check for identification tags in all flippers Leatherback turtle killed for consumption of meat, Playa Negra, Venezuela: Allenjandro Fallabrino Allenjandro Fallabrino 2008

26 Paula von Weller 2009 Thank you!