Sea Turtle Monitoring, Nest Evaluation, and Protection Measures for Lido Key 2011

Transcription

1 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011 SUBMITTED T: City f Sarasta Engineeling Departmt P.O. Bx 1058 Sarasta, FL ] 058 SUBMITTED By: Tny Tucker Ph.D., Sarah Hirsch, Krist Mazzarella, and Kathy Klingsmith Sea TUltl e Cnservatin and Research Prgram Mte Marine Labratry 1600 K Thmpsn Parkway Sarasta, FL January 3, 2012 Mte Marine Labratry Technical RepOlt. 1586

2 TABLE OF COTETS Page. TABLE OF COTETS... ii LIST OF TABLES... iii LIST OF FIGURES... iii LIST OF ACROYMS AD ABBREVIATIOS... iv EXECUTIVE SUl\1l\1ARY... 1 ITRODUCTIO...3 BACKGROUD...4 SEA TURTLE MOITORIG...5 Prject Lcatin... 5 Prcedures... 6 Hatching Surveys and est Evaluatins... 6 Sea Turtle Prtectin Measures... 7 Data Analysis... 8 ESTIG SUCCESS...8 Turtle Emergces (ests and n-esting Emergces)... 8 Categrizatin /n-esting Emergces (Es}... 9 Visual Assessmt 0/Obstructins t esting est Site Selectin est Chamber Characteristics ests Lst t Ersin r Inundatin...: est Damage by Predatin r Invasin REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS Incubatin perid Hatch Success Ernergce Success Disritatin Evts ACKOWLEDGMETS LITERATURE CITED ApPEDICES Appdix A: ests and n-esting Emergces Appdix B: FWC Marine Turtle Hatchling Disritatin Reprts Appdix C: Sarasta Cunty Trds Appdix D: Phtgraphs and Incidtal tes MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring. est Evaluatin. and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011 ii

3 LIST OF TABLES Page. Table 1. est and nn-nesting emergce (E) numbers and nesting success fr sea turtles nesting n Lid Key, Table 2. Categries f nn-nesting emergces (Es) fr Lid Key, Table 3. Sea turtle nest chamber measuremts fr Lid Key, Table 4. Sea turtle nests affected by tidal activity n Lid Key, Table 5a. est damage and prevtative measures tak due t depredatin (including rt invasin) n Lid Key, Table 5b. Idtified nest predatrs n Lid Key, Table 6. Ttal incubatin perid f in situ and relcated nests that expericed emergce n Lid Key, Table 7. Hatch success fr in situ and relcated nests n Lid Key, Table 8. Hatchling emergce success fr in situ and relcated nests n Lid Key, Table 9. Sea turtle disritatins n Lid Key, LIST OF FIGURES Page. Figure 1. Lid Key urishmt Prject cnducted in Figure 2. A nn-nesting emergce and a nest Figure 3. Sea turtle nest sign and a marked sea turtle nest Figure 4. umber f sea turtle nests and nn-nesting emergces (l~e) n Lid Key by week in Figure 5. Lid Key nest lcatins fr Figure 6. Lid Key sea turtle nesting and nn-nesting emergce (E) data frm Figure 7. Distributin f nests and nn-nesting emergces (E) n Lid Key in 2011 by FDEP mnumt Figure 8. Perctage f sea turtle activities that cuntered bstacles n Lid Key frm Figure 9. Perctage f nests that were depredated n Lid Key frm Figure 10. Trds in hatchling disritatin evts n Lid Key frm Figure 11. Surces f disritatin evts n Lid Key, MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011 iii

4 LIST OF ACROYMS AD ABBREVIATIOS CITES em ESA FDEP ft FWC BFD GPS kin m mi MML E.l# STCRP Cnvtin n Internatinal Trade in Endangered Species f Flra and Fauna ctimeter(s) U.S. Endangered Species Act Flrida Departmt f Envirnmtal Prtectin feet Flrida Fish and Wildlife Cnservatin Cmmissin B Franklin Drive Glbal Psitining System kilmeter(s) meter(s) mile(s) Mte Marine Labratry n-nesting emergce number Sea Turtle Cnservatin and Research Prgram MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011 Iv

5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This reprt summarizes sea turtle mnitring by Mte Marine Labratry's Sea Turtle Cnservatin and Research Prgram fr the Lid Key shreline in 2011, tw years fllwing cnstructin activities fr the Lid Key urishmt Prject (Permit JC). Mnitring data are prested fr bth nurished and nn-nurished areas t evaluate pttial impacts frm the Prject. The Lid Key shreline cntains 5.3 km (3.3 mi) f sea turtle nesting habitat frm FDEP mnumt R-30 t R-44. Outside f the nurished area cntains 2.83 km (1.8 mi) frm FDEP mnumt R-30 t R Inside f the nurished area cntains 2.47 km (1.5 mi) frm FDEP mnumt R-35.5 t R Lggerhead turtles accunted fr 100% f sea turtle activity n Lid Key in Lggerhead nesting ccurred betwe May 13 and August 7. esting activity peaked during the first week f June. Beach mnitring effrts dcumted 50 lggerhead nests and 37 lggerhead Es, with 26 lggerhead nests and t lggerhead Es fr Outside Prject and 24 lggerhead nests and 27 lggerhead Es fr Inside Prject. There were 49 in situ and ne relcated nests. esting dsity was 9.4 nests/km (15.2 nests/mi) acrss Lid Key, with 9.2 nests/km (14.8 nestlmi) fr the Outside Prject sectin and 9.7 nests/km (15.7 nest/mi) fr the Inside Prject sectin. esting success n Lid Key was 57.5%. esting success was 72.2% fr Outside Prject and 47.1 % fr Inside Prject. The regin flwest nesting success extded frm FDEP mnumt R-37 t R-38 (0 nests: 3 Es). The regin f highest nesting success extded frm FDEP mnumt R-33 t R-34 (9 nests: 2 Es). Turtles accessing the Lid Key shreline cuntered bstacles n 17 emergces, represting 19.5% f all activities. Of these emergces, 35.3% (6/17) resulted in Es. Turtles were bstructed by escarpmts (16) and beach furniture (1). Of the nests n Lid Key, 40.4% (19/47) were in the upper third f the beach, 25.5% (12/47) were in the middle third, and 34.0% (16/47) were in the lwer third. Fr nests in the Outside Prject sectin, 58.3% (14/24) were in the upper third f the beach, 16.7% (4/24) were in the middle third, and 25.0% (6/24) were in the lwer third. Fr nests in the Inside Prject sectin, 21.7% (5/23) were in the upper third f the beach, 34.8% (8/23) were in the middle third, and 43.5% (10/23) were in the lwer third. There were n hurricanes and ne named strm evt cntributing t castal ersin and/r sand accretin fr the 2011 nesting seasn. Tidal activity caused inundatin f 64.0% (32/50) f nests, five f which washed ut. Trpical Strm Lee (9/5-9/6) affected 16.0% (8/50) f nests, ne f which washed ut. High tides and tidal surges nt assciated with named strms evts inundated 48.0% (24/50) f nests, fur f which washed ut. Fifte nests were affected by mre than ne tidal evt. Predatrs affected 18.0% (9/50) f the nests. The depredatin incidts invlved rts (4), raccns (3), and ghst crabs (2). Three nests were vandalized and nne were pached. MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

6 The average incubatin perid fr in situ lggerhead nests n Lid (n 25) was 59.2 days with a range f days. The first lggerhead nest hatched n July 25 and the last nest hatched n September 26. Lggerhead nests had an average incubatin perid f 59.6 days fr Outside Prject nests and 58.9 days fr Inside Prject nests. The hatch success fr in situ lggerhead nests (n 34 nests and 3,526 eggs) was 48.6% with 49.7% unhatched eggs and 1.6% pipped eggs. Lggerhead nests had a hatch success f37.9% in Outside Prject sectins (n = 14) and 55.1 % in Inside Prject sectins (n 20). Hatch success was 35.9% fr inundated lggerhead nests (n = 22) and 76.2% fr nn-inundated nests (n 12). The emergce success fr in situ lggerhead nests (n 34) was 44.0%. The emergce success fr lggerhead nests was 34.7% fr Outside Prject (n 14) and 49.6% fr Inside Prject (n 20). Excavatins f in situ nests with cmplete excavatin data (n = 34) revealed that 1,552 hatchlings emerged indepdtly prir t nest excavatin. A ttal f 2,042 live hatchlings emerged indepdtly frm Lid nests (n = 45). Tw adult turtle disritatins and 16 hatchling disritatin evts were dcumted, resulting in a minimum f 500 disrited hatchlings. Using nly viable nests (i.e., thse frm which hatchlings emerged) a disritatin rate f53.3% was bserved. The disritatin rate f all nests, bth viable and nnviable (i.e., zer emergce success), was 32.0%. Disritatins were attributed t interir r exterir lighting frm htels r cndminiums (14), sky glw (6), lights frm parking lts (3), pl lights (3), dune crssvers (2), street lights (2), interir r exterir lighting frm single family residces (1), flashlights (I), and lights frm the public beach restrms (1). MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

7 ITRODUCTIO The Gulf f Mexic shreline f Flrida is used as nesting habitat by lggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) (SWOT 2007). Sea turtles (including lggerheads, gres, Kemp's ridleys, and leatherbacks) are included in Annex II f the SPA W (Specially Prtected Areas and Wildlife) Prtcl t the Cartaga Cnvtin, requiring that Parties "sure ttal prtectin and recvery" t this species, including prhibiting take, pssessin, and killing; cmmercial trade (including eggs, parts, r prducts); and, t the extt pssible, disturbance during perids f breeding, incubatin, r migratin, as well as ther perids f bilgical stress. The species are als included n Appdix I f the Cnvtin n Internatinal Trade in Endangered Species f Wild Fauna and Flra (CITES). Sea turtles are fully prtected (listed in Appdix I) under the Cnvtin n the Cnservatin f Migratry Species f Wild Animals (CMS), bliging Parties t prhibit the hunting, fishing, capturing, r harassing f these species, as well as t cnserve their habitat. Finally, the species are included in the annexes t the Cnvtin n ature Prtectin and Wildlife Preservatin in the Western Hemisphere (Washingtn, r Western Hemisphere Cnvtin); a designatin intded t cnvey that their prtectin is f "special urgcy and imprtance." The species are prtected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) f 1973, the Marine Turtle Prtectin Act Chapter (Flrida Administratin Cde), and the Sarasta Cunty Sea Turtle Prtectin Ordinance ( ). The lggerhead was listed in 1978 as a federally threated species (43 Federal Register 32800). Internatinally it is cnsidered "Vulnerable" and is listed as a species threated with extinctin in Appdix I f CITES. A rect re-evaluatin f the lggerhead status in the rthwest Atlantic Ocean remains classed as Threated (76 Federal Register 58868). In additin t lggerhead turtles, ther sea turtle species have be dcumted nesting in small numbers n the ctral Gulfbeaches. In 2011,20 gre turtle (Chelnia mydas) nests were recrded in Sarasta Cunty, fllwing a recrd f 40 nests laid in There has be a ttal f 160 gre turtle nests in Sarasta Cunty since In 2011, n Kemp's ridley (Lepidchelys kempii) nests were recrded in Sarasta Cunty. There has be a ttal f sev cnfinned Kemp's ridley nests in Sarasta Cunty since the first nest was recrded in In 2001, a leatherback turtle (Dermchelys criacea) depsited a clutch n Lngbat Key, which marked the first dcumted nesting f this species n the ctral west cast f Flrida. A secnd reprting f a leatherback turtle nesting was dcumted n Sanibel Island (Lee Cunty) in Juvile lggerhead, gre, and Kemp's ridley turtles als utilize the near-shre waters f the ctral Gulf cast f Flrida as develpmtal habitat. The gre turtle is listed as dangered in Flrida and is federally listed as a prtected species since 1978 (43 Federal Register 32800). The Kemp's ridley is the mst critically dangered f all sea turtle species and as such is prtected thrughut its range in the Gulf f Mexic and nrthwestern Atlantic Ocean (35 Federal Register 18319). The leatherback is listed as dangered wrldwide and federally listed since 1978 (35 Federal Register 8491). Land-based threats t these prtected sea turtles include beach ersin, beach armring, beach nurishmt activities, artificial lighting, beach cleaning, increased human presce, recreatinal beach equipmt, extic dune and beach vegetatin, nest depredatin, nest lss t abitic factrs, and paching. Threats within the marine virnmt include, but are nt limited t, incidtal take frm dredging, marina and dck develpmt, pllutin, sea grass bed degradatin, fisheries MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

8 activities including hk and line fisheries, bat cllisins, ffshre artificial lighting, ingestin fmarine debris, paching, and predatin (MFS/USFWS 2009). The Flrida Fish and Wildlife Cnservatin Cmmissin (FWC), atinal Marine Fisheries Service (MFS), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) evaluate data pertaining t sea turtle species, their use fhabitat, nesting success, and any prtectin measures undertak t prtect the adult turtle, the nest, and emerging hatchlings. This is in supprt f idtifying apprpriate cnstructin techniques that ccur in sea turtle nesting habitat. The City f Sarasta cntracted Mte Marine Labratry's (MML) Sea Turtle Cnservatin and Research Prgram (STCRP) t idtify critical issues related t the prtectin f sea turtles, their nesting habitat, nests, and hatchlings n Lid Key beaches. This 2011 reprt summarizes STCRP's sea turtle mnitring, evaluatin, and prtectin effrts fr the Lid Key urishmt Prject. BACKGROUD The Lid Key shreline is used as nesting habitat by sea turtles that are prtected by the ESA f 1973, the Marine Turtle Prtectin Act Chapter (Flrida Administrative Cde), and the Sarasta Cunty Sea Turtle Prtectin Ordinance ( ). Beach nurishmt r restratin can result in changes in beach prperties such as sand dsity, beach shear resistance, misture cntt, beach slpe, sand clr, grain size, and shape (Crain et al 1995, Davis et al. 1999, Petersn ~d Bishp 2005, Rumbld et al. 2001, Brck et al. 2009). These changes may affect the nesting activity f sea turtles and the hatch and subsequt emergce success f the nests. Cnsequtly, special cnditins are included in beach cnstructin permits t minimize impacts t the turtles, nests, and hatchlings. The 2009 Lid Key Beach urishmt Prject (Permit JC), hereafter referred t as 'the Prject', placed 354,753 cubic meters f sand, surced frm ffshre brrw areas, n 2,47 kilmeters f shreline, extding apprximately frm Flrida Departmt f Envirnmtal Prtectin (FDEP) mnumt R-35.5 t R-44.2 in Sarasta Cunty. The nrth d fthe Prject crrespnds t the address 101 B Franklin Drive. The suthern d fthe Prject crrespnds t a lcatin in Suth Lid Park apprximately 300 ft suth f2150 B Franklin Drive. The Prject started n March 5,2009 and was cmpleted n April 13, The main bjective fthe Prject was t restre the erded castline and t prtect beach prperty. Hereafter, sectins flid Key will be categrized as "Outside Prject" and "Inside Prject" fr purpses f data cllectin. Jint Castal Permits fr every beach nurishmt prject include fill material cmpsitin requiremts, permitted cnstructin material and machinery lcatins, requiremts fr escarpmt frmatin surveys, pst-cnstructin beach cmpactness mnitring, and sea turtle activity mnitring. STCRP persnnel dcumted sea turtle activity and implemted nest prtectin and evaluatin measures. Special permit cnditins pertaining t sea turtle mnitring activities included: MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

9 Daily dawn sea turtle nest surveys f the beach were t be cnducted (starting April I in the year f the prject and May I in the fllwing years) and t cntinue thrugh the d f the sea turtle nesting seasn, Octber 31, r until all nests were excavated. est relcatins were required t be cmpleted n later than 9 a.m. fthe mrning fllwing depsitin. All nests, in situ r relcated, were t be marked and the actual lcatin f the clutch determined. All nesting surveys, nest relcatins, nest caging activities, and nest success evaluatins were t be cnducted by persns with prir experice and training in these activities and duly authrized t cnduct such activities thrugh FWC Marine Turtle Permits #054 and # 155, currt and valid permits issued by FWC, Imperiled Species Managemt, pursuant t Flrida Administrative Cde Rule 62R-1. Mnitring f nesting activity fllwing cnstructin was t include daily surveys and any additinal measures authrized by the FWC. The required reprt included nesting success rates, hatch success f all in situ and relcated nests, and names f all persnnel invlved in nest surveys and relcatin activities. These data were t be reprted separately fr the Outside Prject sectin and the Inside Prject sectin. Permit Cnditins require sea turtle mnitring and reprting f the initial nesting seasn fllwing cmpletin f the beach placemt f maintance-dredged material (2009) and fr a minimum f tw additinal nesting seasns ( ). This Prject was the furth nurishmt prject t ccur n Lid Key that was subsequtly mnitred fr turtle activity by MML (Table 1). Prir t beach mnitring, Lid Key was nurished eight times frm (Bush et al. 2001). Summaries fpreviusly mnitred nurishmt prjects are archived nline at Flrida State University's Beaches and Shres Resurce Cter (Flrida State University 2007). This reprt summarizes the data cllected fr the 2011 nesting seasn, tw years fllwing the cnstructin activity, t fulfill mnitring requiremts fr the Lid Key urishmt Prject (Permit JC). This reprt is submitted t the City f Sarasta Engineering Departmt, Sarasta Cunty Cmmunity Services Departmt, Castal Planning and Engineering, Inc., the FDEP, the FWC Imperiled Species Managemt Divisin, the USFWS, and is archived in the MML STCRP ffice and the MML library. SEA TURTLE MOITORIG Prject Lcatin Lid Key is lcated in Sarasta Cunty n the ctral Gulf cast f Flrida (Figure 1). The surveyed shreline cntains 5.3 km (3.3 mi) f sea turtle nesting habitat. Outside fthe nurished area cntains 2.83 km (1.8 mi) frm FDEP mnumt R-30 t R Inside f the nurished area cntains 2.47 km (1.5 mi) frm FDEP mnumt R-35.5 t R Lid Key is bunded t the nrth by ew Pass and t the suth by Big Sarasta Pass. The shreline is currtly characterized by high dsity residtial develpmt and high-rise cndminiums and htels (Mretn and Petersn 2003). MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

10 Prcedures Daily mnitring fthe Lid Key shreline began n May 1 and cntinued until the final nest excavatin n Octber 5 t fulfill the FWC Sea Turtle Cnservatin Guidelines (FWC 2007). This mnitring effrt was cnducted by Mte and FWC trained STCRP persnnel, interns, and vlunteers authrized under FWC Marine Turtle Permit #054 issued t Ms. Krist Mazzarella. Persnnel mnitred fr turtle nesting activity by walking the shreline at dawn abve the mean high water line. Upn discvery f an emergce, permitted persnnel determined visually whether the emergce was a nest r a nn-nesting emergce (als knwn as a false crawl). A nest was defined as a turtle emergce that resulted in the turtle successfully depsiting eggs. A nn-nesting emergce (E) was defined as an emergce that did nt result in egg depsitin. Signs f an E can include an abandned bdy pit r nest chamber. A bdy pit refers t the sandy depressin cleared by a sea turtle's frnt flippers prir t digging a nest chamber. A nest chamber is a vase-shaped hle excavated by a turtle's rear flippers. The fllwing are examples fes: 1) a turtle that emerged n the beach but did nt bdy pit r excavate a nest chamber; 2) a turtle that emerged and made ne r mre bdy pits but did nt excavate a nest chamber; and 3) a turtle that emerged, created a bdy pit and excavated a nest chamber but did nt depsit any eggs (ft these abrted nest excavatins are left uncvered by the turtle). Figure 2 illustrates a E and a nest. During the survey alng the beach, Es and nests were recrded n MML est Data Frms (Appdix A). esting success is defined as the prprtin f nesting attempts by a sea turtle (emergces nt the beach) that resulted in eggs being depsited. esting success # nests (#nests + #Es) In previus years, nests laid clse t the water line were immediately relcated. Hwever, in rder t dcumt the effects fbeach nurishmt n nest site selectin, FWC Guidelines (2007) state that eggs were nt t be relcated until they were uncvered by high tides and dcumted as washing ut. Ifrelcated, eggs were placed in a bucket lined with sand and were transprted higher n the beach int an artificially prduced nest chamber clsely resembling the riginal nest chamber in shape, size, and depth. All nests were marked by several yellw wd stakes cnnected with flagging tape and signage idtifying the site as a prtected sea turtle nest (Figure 3). Each nest was additinally marked with the date the nest was laid and the riginal nest lcatin. est lcatin was dcumted in the field by three methds: 1) relative psitin t the clsest inland street address r landmark, 2) the nearest FDEP mnumt, and 3) glbal psitining system (GPS) crdinates. Hatching Surveys and est Evaluatins During incubatin, nests were mnitred in the early mrning and ccasinally again in the eving. Observance fne r mre f the fllwing was used t determine the first hatchling emergce t calculate incubatin perids (FWC 2007): 1) A hatchling r hatchlings prest at the surface MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr lid Key

11 2) A hatchling crawl r crawls in the sand leading ut frm the nest area 3) An emergce hle directly ver the nest Each nest was excavated three days after the initial emergce t umerate the cntts fr a hatch success calculatin. The delayed nest excavatin allwed the majrity f hatchlings t emerge frm the nest n their wn. est excavatins were recrded n MML est Data Frms (Appdix A). Upn excavatin, the cntts f the nest were srted and cunted int the fllwing categries: 1) Hatched eggs are empty r hatched eggshells (fragmts were nt included in the tally); 2) Pipped eggs are either live r dead hatchlings that punctured the eggshell but did nt fully emerged frm the egg; and 3) Unhatched eggs are unped eggs remaining in the nest at excavatin. Ttal clutch size is the sum fhatched, pipped, unhatched, and destryed eggs. Hatch success is the prprtin f eggs in a nest that prduced live hatchlings. Hatch Success = # hatched eggs # ttal clutch size Emergce success was used t adjust fr within nest mrtality fhatchlings and t evaluate the number fhatchlings that left the nest. Emergce success represts the number f hatchlings that emerged indepdtly frm the nest prir t nest excavatin: # hatched eggs - (live hatched + dead hatched in nest chamber) Emergce Success = =--= ' '- # ttal clutch size Any live hatchling(s) within a nest were either released immediately r were transferred t a bucket cntaining mist sand. These buckets fhatchlings were kept in a warm, darked lcatin until the hatchlings were released n the beach that eving. est excavatins and hatchling releases were cnducted accrding t FWC Marine Turtle Cnservatin Guidelines (FWC 2007). Wh hatches are nt bserved, nests are invtried at 70 days frm the date laid and are therefre included in calculatins f hatch success and emergce success. Sea Turtle Prtectin Measures Sea turtle prtectin measures implemted during the 2011 seasn fllwed prtcls determined by FWC Marine Turtle Cnservatin Guidelines (2007) and included: Relcating dangered nests if placed in immediate threat f washing ut Caging nests with self-releasing r restraining cages wh nests were threated by predatrs r lighting Placing an FWC apprved fire ant cntrl (Amdr) arund nests wh fire ants (Sipsis invicta) were bserved Cmmunicating with the Sarasta Cunty Cde Enfrcemt regarding artificial illuminatin f the beach and hatchling disritatin evts due t nn-cmpliant lighting MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

12 Data Analysis Sea turtle emergce and hatching data were cmpiled in a Micrsft Access database. Data input is supervised by staff and quality checks are cnducted fr the riginal data sheet, thrugh data input, and fr data errrs befre analysis. Figures and tables were created in Micrsft Access, Excel, r Wrd. Statistical analyses were cnducted using Access r Excel with the PpTls add-in. Maps were prepared with Ggle Earth using 2010 aerial phtgraphy. ESTIG SUCCESS Turtle Emergces (ests and n-esting Emergces) Lggerhead turtles accunted fr 100% f sea turtle activity n Lid Key in Lggerhead nesting ccurred betwe May 13 and August 7 (Figure 4). Beach mnitring effrts dcumted 50 lggerhead nests and 37 lggerhead Es (Appdix A). This is an increase frm number f lggerhead nests (n = 17) and an increase frm the number flggerhead Es (n 27) dcumted in There were 49 in situ and ne relcated nest. Thc nest relcatin was cnducted due t a depredatin. Fr the Outside Prject sectin, there were 26 lggerhead nests and t lggerhead Es. In the Inside Prject sectin, there were 24 lggerhead nests and 27 lggerhead Es. All nest lcatins are mapped in Figure 5. Based n FWC data cllected thrughut Flrida's nesting beaches, the prprtins f nests t 1~Es shuld be relatively similar and the balance betwe the tw serves as an indicatr f a beach's nesting suitability. Wh numbers fes substantially exceed that f nests, it typically indicates that sme cmbinatin f factrs deters the turtles frm nesting. The skewed rati f nests t Es can be assciated with natural causes (e.g., escarpmts, beach cmpactness, r flding) r human-related factrs (e.g., beach lighting, beach armring structures, beach furniture, r physical harassmt). Histrically, nesting dsities f sea turtles n Lid Key range frm nests/km ( nests/mi). esting dsity was 9.43 nests/km (15.2 nests/mi) acrss Lid Key (Table 1), with 9.2 nests/km (14.8 nest/mi) fr the Outside Prject sectin and 9.7 nests/km (15.7 nest/mi) fr the Inside Prject sectin. esting success n Lid Key was 57.5%. esting success in the Outside Prject sectin was 72.2%. esting success in the Inside Prject sectin was 47.1 %. In the Outside Prject sectin, nesting activity was bserved frm May 16 t August 7. In the Inside Prject sectin, nesting activity was bserved betwe May 13 and July 26 (Figure 5). The 2011 nesting data fr Lid Key indicate a 194% increase in nesting numbers frm the 2010 seasn (Figure 6). Since rganized mnitring began in 1991, Lid Key lggerhead nesting numbers have varied betwe a lw f 16 in 2001 and a high f 59 in 2000 (Table 1, Figure 6). This variatin in lggerhead nesting is cnsistt with a geral trd in lggerhead nesting MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

13 dcumted thrughut the sutheastern U.S. (FWC 2008, Witheringtn et al 2009), and mirrrs the trd in Sarasta Cunty which hsts the dsest lggerhead nesting in the Gulf f Mexic (Appdix C). Pssible causes fr the variatin in lggerhead nesting numbers include incidtal fisheries bycatch (lnglines, gillnets, shrimp trawling, artisanal), castal develpmt, and beach armring (MFSIUSFWS 2009, Witheringtn et al. 2009). Climatic and ceangraphic factrs such as rth Atlantic Oscillatin (Van Hutan and Halley 2011) may als be respnsible. Accrding t the Flrida Index esting Trds (FWC 2011), "a detailed analysis f Flrida's lng-term lggerhead nesting data ( ) revealed that fllwing a 24 perct increase betwe 1989 and 1998, nest cunts declined 16 perct betwe 1998 and Hwever, the rect trd may be stabilizing. Lggerhead sea turtle nest cunts in 2011 were clse t the average fr the preceding five-year perid." Accrding t the FWC, a nest with n subsequt evidce f hatching is termed a mystery nest. Withut indepdt evidce, it can nly be presumed that a mystery nest was inaccurately classified, inundated, r pached. Mystery nests are included in calculatins f nesting success, but are mitted frm calculatins fr hatch success and emergce success. ne f the 50 nests (0.0%) were mystery nests. Categrizatin fn-esting Emergces (Es) Sea turtles searching the shreline fr a suitable nesting site may abandn a nesting attempt and 'return t the water withut depsiting a clutch. n-nesting emergces (Es) can be categrized by the stage at which the turtle abandned r terminated nesting (Table 2). In 2011, the 37 Es n Lid Key were categrized as: 1) 24 emergces with n digging; 2) elev emergces with bdy pits but n nest chamber; and 3) tw emergces with ne r mre abandned nest chambers. The t Es within the Outside Prject sectin were categrized as: 1) five emergces with n digging; 2) fur emergces with ne r mre bdy pits but n nest chamber; and 3) ne emergce with ne r mre abandned nest chambers. The 27 Es within the Inside Prject sectin were categrized as: 1) 19 emergces with n digging; 2) sev emergces with ne r mre bdy pits but n nest chamber; and 3) ne emergce with ne r mre abandned nest chambers. The 2011 data are cnsistt with thse frm 2010 with mst Es categrized as emergces withut digging a bdy pit r nest chamber. The first E n May 12 ccurred ne day befre the first nest was laid. In 2011,42.5% f turtle emergces were classified as Es. The relative distributin f nests and Es alng the lgth flid Key idtified specific prblem areas with elevated Es (Figure 7). Trublesme areas shuld be reviewed t flag the prblem surces (e.g., unshielded lights) and beachfrnt prperty wners shuld be advised f mre 'turtle-fridly' slutins. Using this practive apprach culd pttially reduce the number fl'l"es during the 2012 nesting seasn. The regin flwest nesting success extded frm FDEP mnumt R-37 t R-38 (0 nests: 3 Es), This area cn'espnds t Lid Public Beach which is subject t a high amunt f artificial lighting and human activity. MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

14 The regin f highest nesting success extded frm FDEP mnumt R-33 t R-34 (9 nests: 2 Es). Lcated in the Outside Prject sectin, this nrthern stretch f beach is mre dsely vegetated than mst areas n Lid Key and likely prvides a quieter and darker nesting area than elsewhere n the Key. Inside the Prject, FDEP mnumts R-40 (4 nests: 1 Es) and R-42 (4 nests: 1 E) had the highest nesting success. Visual Assessmt fobstructins t esting Turtles accessing the Lid Key shreline cuntered bstacles n 17 emergces, represting 19.5% f all activities (Figure 8). Ofthese emergces, 35.3% (6/17) resulted in Es. Turtles were bstructed by escarpmts (16) and beach furniture (1). Encunters with escarpmts bstructed 12.5% (2/16) f females frm travelling further landward. In the Outside Prject sectin, 0.0% (0/4) fturtles that cuntered bstacles did nt nest; bstacles included escarpmts (3) and beach furniture (1). In the Inside Prject sectin, 46.2% (6/13) fturtles that cuntered bstacles did nt nest; bstacles included escarpmts (13). A cmmn finding with new nurishmt prjects is a relative increase in the number fes due t escarpmt cunters because nurished beaches usually have a flatter prfile and are mre susceptible t escarpmt frmatin. Vertical escarpmt heights were a maximum f tw feet during the 2011 nesting seasn. In 2011, turtles cuntered escarpmts n 18.4% (16/87) f all emergces. Of all escarpmt cunters, 37.5% (6116) resulted in Es. A 2005 amdmt t Sarasta Cunty's Sea Turtle Ordinance requires the nightly remval f beach furniture and ther temprary structures. After five beach furniture bstructins were recrded in 2007, diligt cmmunicatins were kept with htel maintance staff t sure that beaches were clear f furniture befre dark. There were zer beach furniture related incidts in 2008 and In 2010, ne turtle cuntered beach furniture and this resulted in a E. In 2011, ne turtle nested after cuntering beach furniture. est Site Selectin Mnitring persnnel measured the beach width n the mrning after nest depsitin. Measuremts were tak frm the nest t the clsest upland vegetatin r barrier and frm the nest t the day's mean high water line. By dividing the available beach int thirds, turtle preferce fr nest site selectin n the upper, middle, r lwer third f the beach culd be determined, regardless f beach width. ests which lacked distance measuremts (n 3) were mitted frm the analysis. Of the nests n Lid Key, 40.4% (19/47) were in the upper third f the beach, 25.5% (12/47) were in the middle third, and 34.0% (16/47) were in the lwer third. Fr nests in the Outside Prject sectin, 58.3% (14124) were in the upper third f the beach, 16.7% (4124) were in the middle third, and 25.0% (6/24) were in the lwer third. Fr nests in the Inside Prject sectin, 21.7% (5/23) were in the upper third fthe beach, 34.8% (8/23) were in the middle third, and 43.5% (10/23) were in the lwer third. MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

15 These data are useful indicatrs because studies suggest that nesting sea turtles have limited ergy resurces t utilize wh ascding a beach (Brck et al. 2009, Crain et al. 1995, Wd and Bjrndal 2000). These ergy cnstraints are thught t create a pattern fnest site selectin clser t the high water line n rectly nurished beaches that are brader and flatter than n mre steeply prfiled beaches. This situatin is trublesme as nests clse t the high water line have a higher prbability fbeing inundated r washed ut during strms. The 2011 Lid Key data shw this expected pattern: fr the Outside Prject sectin, 75.0% fnests were in the upper r middle third fthe beach and fr the Inside Prject sectin, 43.5% fnests were in the lwer third. est Chamber Characteristics est chamber measuremts were tabulated fr nests laid in the Outside Prject and Inside Prject shreline n Lid Key (Table 3). Sea turtles dig their nest chambers using nly their rear flippers. ests that were determined t be laid by turtles with rear flipper defrmities were excluded frm this analysis because the fcus is n differing sand characteristics betwe native and nn-native beaches and nt sea turtle mrphmetrics. ests in the Outside Prject sectin averaged 44.3 cm in depth (range cm), 23.4 cm in width (range cm), and 24.1 cm frm the sand surface t the tp f the clutch (range 4-41 cm). ests in the Inside Prject sectin averaged 39.2 cm in depth (range cm), 25.0 cm in width (range cm), and 23.4 cm frm the sand surface t the tp f the clutch (range cm). ests Lst t Ersin r Inundatin There were n hurricanes and ne named strm evt cntributing t castal ersin and/r sand accretin fr the 2011 nesting seasn. Tidal activity caused inundatin f 64.0% (32/50) f nests, five fwhich washed ut (Table 4). Trpical Strm Lee (9/5-9/6) affected 16.0% (8/50) fnests, ne f which washed ut. High tides and tidal surges nt assciated with named strms evts inundated 48.0% (24/50) fnests, fur f which washed ut. Fifte nests were affected by mre than ne tidal evt. Inundatins impacted Lid Key t a greater extt during 2011 than in 2010 wh 41.2% (7/17) nests were inundated by tides. In the Outside Prject sectin, 42.3% (11126) fnests were inundated and 11.5% (3/26) fnests were washed ut. In the Inside Prject sectin, 66.7% (16/24) f nests were inundated and 8.3% (2/24) f nests were washed ut. est Damage by Depredatin r Invasin Predatrs affected 18.0% (9/50) f the nests (Figure 9). The depredatin incidts invlved rts (4), raccns (3), and ghst crabs (2). nests were affected by multiple depredatin evts. The perctage fdepredated nests increased frm 0% (0117) in (Tables 5a and 5b). Sev nests were treated with an FWC apprved fire ant cntrl (Amdr) wh fire ants (Slpsis invicta) were bserved in r near the nests. MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring. est Evaluatin. and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

16 Three nests were vandalized in 2011, an increase frm zer nests in nests were pached in 2009, 2010, r 20II. REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS Incubatin perid Calculatins f mean incubatin perid nly include nests fr which bth the date laid and date hatched were knwn (n = 25; Table 6). Several interrelated factrs such as nest lcatin n the beach, amunt frainfall, substrate clr, and virnmtal temperature cntribute t the cmplex variatins in incubatin temperature that influce incubatin perid. The average incubatin perid fr in situ lggerhead nests n Lid (n = 25) was 59.2 days with a range f days. There were n relcated nests n Lid. The first lggerhead nest hatched n July 25 and the last nest hatched n September 26. In the Outside Prject sectin, the average incubatin perid fr in situ lggerhead nests (n 10) was 59.6 days with a range f days. In the Inside Prject sectin, in situ lggerhead nests (n = 15) had an average incubatin perid f 58.9 days with a range f days. Hatch Success Hatch success was calculated fr 34 in situ lggerhead nests with cmplete excavatin data. These nests were separated int inundated and nn-inundated categries (Table 7). ests were excavated and invtried with cntts srted int categries f hatched eggs, unhatched eggs, live r dead pipped hatchlings, and live r dead hatchlings. Statistics were cmpiled frm the pled results fr all individual nests. Wh hatches are nt bserved, nests are invtried at 70 days frm the date laid and are therefre included in calculatins f hatch success and emergce success. ests that were ttally r partially washed ut were excluded in the hatch r emergce success calculatins. The hatch success fr in situ lggerhead nests (n = 34 nests and 3,526 eggs) was 48.6% with 49.7% unhatched eggs and 1.6% pipped eggs. The hatch success fr in situ lggerhead nests was higher than in 2010 (38.0%, n 15). Lggerhead nests had a hatch success f37.9% in the Outside Prject sectin (n = 14) and 55.1 % in the Inside Prject sectin (n = 20). Hatch success was 35.9% fr all inundated lggerhead nests (n = 22) and 76.2% fr all nn-inundated nests (n = 12). Emergce Success Emergce success was calculated fr nests with cmplete excavatin data. The emergce success fr in situ lggerhead nests (n = 34) was 44.0%. The emergce success fr in situ lggerhead nests was higher than in 2010 (37.8%, n 15). MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

17 The emergce success fr in situ Outside Prject nests (n = 14) was 34.7%. The emergce success fr in situ Inside Prject nests (n = 20) was 49.6%. All inundated nests (n = 22) had 30.0% emergce success while all nn-inundated nests (n = 12) had 74.3% emergce success. In situ lggerhead nests with cmplete excavatin data (n = 34) revealed that 1,552 hatchlings emerged indepdtly prir t nest excavatin (Table 8). ests with incmplete excavatin data (n = 11; e.g., nests that were excavated early, depredated, r partial washuts) prduced an additinal 490 live lggerhead hatchlings that emerged indepdtly. A ttal f2,042 (1, ) live hatchlings emerged indepdtly frm Lid nests (n = 45). Disritatin Evts Tw adult turtle disritatins and 16 hatchling disritatin evts were dcumted, resulting in a minimum f 500 disrited hatchlings (Table 9, Appdix B). Using nly viable nests (i.e., thse frm which hatchlings emerged) a disritatin rate f 53.3% was bserved cmpared t 18.1 % in 2010 (Figure 10). The disritatin rate f all nests, bth viable and nnviable (i.e., zer emergce), was 32.0% (Figure 10). Disritatin rates increased in 2011 cmpared t the 2010 nesting seasn (Figure 10). The steep increase in 2011 is believed t be related t nest placemt in a high dsity year that cincided with lighting htspts at hatchling emergce time. Wh cmpared t ther Sarasta beaches, Lid Key disritatins have be cnsisttly high (Appdix C). Disritatins were attributed t interir r exterir lighting frm htels r cndminiums (14), sky glw (6), lights frm parking lts (3), pl lights (3), dune crssvers (2), street lights (2), interir r exterir lighting frm single family residces (1), flashlights (1), and lights frm the public beach restrms (1). In sme evts, there was mre than ne cause fr disritatin (Table 9, Figure 11). In each dcumted case, STCRP persnnel cmmunicated with the Sarasta Cunty Cde Enfrcemt Officers abut artificial illuminatin fthe beach and disritatin evts due t nn-cmpliant lighting. Lcatins betwe FDEP mnumts R-38 and R-40 were respnsible fr 55.6% (10/18) f hatchling disritatins. This area is characterized by cndminiums and htels. Evidce dcumted by Crain et al. (1995) frm past Flrida beach nurishmt prj ects has demnstrated that nurished beaches are elevated and wider, thus allwing mre light t be visible fr a greater distance alng the beach axis. Disritatins are easily prevtable by adhering t the rules f "Keep it lw, keep it lng, keep it shielded." Imprved lighting cmpliance is needed t stem the cncern abut hatchling MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

18 disritatins. Ideally, nighttime lighting inspectins crdinated betwe STCRP bservatins and lcal cde frcemt fficers will attempt t address utstanding lighting issues befre May 1. Onging lighting checks shuld reccur in July at the beginning fhatching seasn and cntinue until the last nest hatches. Lighting wrkshps c-hsted by STCRP, Manatee and Sarasta Cunty, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, the Twn f Lngbat Key, Flrida Pwer and Light (FPL), FWC, and USFWS were held yearly betwe 2007 and 2011 t help decrease the ccurrce fdisritatins. Represtatives frm the lcal, state, and federal levels discussed lighting and its impacts n nesting sea turtles and emerging hatchlings as well as ptins fr turtle fridly lighting. Attding hmewners, prperty wners, and cntractrs were giv the chance t cmplete the fficial sea turtle exterir lighting exam. T reduce the pttial impacts frm currt and future nurishmt prjects, prperty wners must put int effect what they learned at the lighting seminar and the lcal lighting rdinance must be strictly frced. Lighting wrkshps chsted by STCRP are planned fr 2012 and hpefully will curage imprved cmpliance with the Sarasta Cunty Sea Turtle Prtectin Ordinance ( ). As beachfrnt lighting prblems decline, hatchlings emerging n darker beaches may becme mre vulnerable t skyglw r the increased impact fpint surce light (Mazzarella et al 2011). Lighting issues can be cmplicated, and the simple guidelines are useful steps fr pint surces flight, but may nt be adequate ifurban skyglw is a larger issue. In such cases, there may be need fr light shielding by vegetatin scres. This may develp as a Flrida-wide castal issue fr beachfrnt virnmts where nnnative vegetatin (particularly Australian pines, Casuarina equisetiflia) is remved r suffers strm damage. ACKOWLEDGMETS We acknwledge the assistance fvlunteers wh cntributed a ttal f 1,519 hurs and an estimated $32,435 fin kind supprt t Lid Key effrts in The cmmunity based cnservatin effrt n Lid Key included Mte Staff(T. Tucker, S. Hirsch, K. Mazzarella, K. Klingsmith, J. Flint, A. Harper, L. Kabat), cllege interns and graduate studts (M. Bernhard, R. Blake, C. Bvery, A. Cass, R. Edman, S. Fiest, W. Grver, 1. Shre, J. Sinichk, R. Tassell), permitted vlunteers n Marine Turtle Permit 054 (H. Lucian, H. West), and ther beach vlunteers under an FWC Letter fauthrizatin (M. Andersn, 1. Arbuckle, A. Barleycrn, M.T. Bjamin, M. Bjamin, L. Bustills, R. Cantrell, M. Caranfa, C. Cissel, D. Daytn, C. Deveau, 1. Dzina, B. Finerty, C. Fitzgibbns, C. Harrell, L. Harrell, J. Helseth, S. Hper, J. Klick, W. Klick, A. Kuw, G. Kuw, D. Lve, M. Lve, T. Martin, M. McCarthy, K. McHugh, 1. Prettyman, A. Rsebrck, K. Rsebrck, J. Rsberg, G. Santianni, L.A. Schaffer, P. Sharp, S. Suder, B. Taylr, 1. Taylr, M. Wheatley). We thank Keri Ferc-elsn f Sarasta Cunty Cmmunity Services fr the diligt effrts n lighting inspectins. Mte vlunteers Ann Tann and Cindy Samwebber distributed pre-seasn lighting infrmatin t beachfrnt prperties. MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring. est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

19 LITERATURE CITED Brck, KA, JS Reece, and LM Ehrhart The effects f artificial beach nurishmt n marine turtles: differces betwe lggerhead and gre turtles. Restratin Eclgy 17: Bush, DM, J Lng, WJ eal, LS Esteves, OH Pilkey, DF Pilkey, and CA Webb Living n the edge f the Gulf: the west Flrida and Alabama cast. Duke University Press, Durham,.C. Crain, DA, AB Blt, and KA Bjrndal Effects f beach nurishmt n sea turtles: review and research initiatives. Restratin Eclgy 3 : Davis, RA, MV Fitzgerald, and J Terry Turtle nesting n adjact beaches with differt cnstructin styles: Pinellas Cunty, Flrida. 1. Castal Research 15: Federal Register FR 8491, June 2,1970 Federal Register FR 18319, December 2,1970 Federal Register FR 32800, July 28, 1978 Federal Register FR 58868, September 22,2011 Flrida Fish and Wildlife Cnservatin Cmmissin Trds in nesting by Flrida lggerheads. URL: Flrida Fish and Wildlife Cnservatin Cmmissin nest survey results d nt change turtle nesting trds. URL:research.myfwc.cmlfeatures/view_article.asp?id=27537 Flrida Fish and Wildlife Cnservatin Cmmissin Sea turtle cnservatin guidelines. URL: Flrida State University Beaches and shres resurce cter. URL: beachl0.beaches.fsu.edu Mazzarella, K, K Ferc-elsn, S Hirsch, P Clark and T Tucker Which way d we g? Shifting trds in disritatins affect light managemt strategies. Internatinal Sea Turtle Sciety, 31 st Annual Sympsium n Sea Turtle Bilgy and Cnservatin, San Dieg, Califrnia. Mrtn, RA and RL Petersn Castal classificatin atlas. West-ctral Flrida castal classificatin maps - Anclte Key t Vice Inlet. USGS Op File Reprt , Versin 1.1. U.S. Departmt f the Interir, U.S. Gelgical Survey. URL: pubs.usgs.gv/f/2003/0f03-227lindex.html atinal Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recvery plan fr nrthwest Atlantic ppulatin f the lggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). URL: _atlantic. pdf Petersn, CH and MJ Bishp Assessing the virnmtal impacts fbeach nurishmt. Biscice 55: Rumbld, DG, PW Davis, and C Perretta Estimating the effect fbeach nurishmt n Caretta caretta (lggerhead sea turtle) nesting. Restratin Eclgy 9: SWOT State f the wrld's sea turtles, Vl. 2. URL: Van Hutan, KS and JM Halley Lng-term climate frcing in lggerhead sea turtle nesting. PLS OE 6(4): e di:l jurnal.pne Witheringtn, B, P Kubilis, B Brst, and A Meylan Decreasing annual nest cunts in a glbally imprtant lggerhead sea turtle ppulatin. Ecl. App!. 19: Wd, D, and K Bjrndal Relatin ftemperature, misture, salinity and slpe t nest site selectin in lggerhead sea turtles. Cpeia 2000: MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

20 Table 1. est and nn-nesting emergce (E) numbers and nesting success fr sea turtles nesting n Lid Key, Year ests E est Success Km est dsity Activity dsity l * * * * Grey areas indicate years befre mnitring was standardized fr effrt. Lid Key was nmished eight times betwe (Bush et al. 2001). * indicates the years f nurishmt prjects with mnitring requiremts MOTE MARIE LABORATORY 16 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

21 Table 2. Categries f nn-nesting emergces (Es) fr Lid Key, I. E Type Outside Prject Inside Prject Ttal Es 2011 Tw Years Pst-cnstructin # Emergce-n digging # With preliminary bdy pit # With abandned egg chamber Ttal # Es One Year Pst-cnstructin # Emergce-n digging # With preliminary bdy pit # With abandned egg chamber Ttal #Es Year f Cnstructin # Emergce-n digging # With preliminary bdy pit # With abandned egg chamber Ttal #Es Table 3. Sea turtle nest chamber measuremts fr Lid Key, Values are means fllwed in partheses by sample size, ne standard deviatin, and range. est Chamber Measuremts Outside Pr.iect Inside Pr.iect 2011 Tw Years Pst-cnstructin Surface t tp fclutch (cm) 24.1 (16,8.76,4-41) 23.4 (21, 7.09, 10-38) est chamber depth (cm) 44.3 (16, 8.22,35-68) 39.2 (21,9.47, 18-58) est chamber width (cm) 23.4 (17, 3.79, 13-30) 25.0 (21, 3.58, 18-30) 2010 One Year Pst-cnstructin Surface t tp fclutch (cm) 21.2 (9, 7.91, 10-35) 25.0 (6, 4.51, 20-30) est chamber depth (cm) 38.1 (9, 8.63,23-55) 44.8 (6, 5.23, 37-52) est chamber width (cm) 23.1 (9,3.95, 18-28) 18.1 (6,5.15,8-22) 2009 Year f Cnstructin Surface t tp f clutch (cm) 17.2 (5, 5.63, 9-24) 18.1 (7,8.89,6-35) est chamber depth (cm) 28.8 (5,6.30,22-35) 35.6 (7, 12.55, 16-51) est chamber width (cm) 21.3 (6, 3.66, 16-25) 24.7 (7, 3.77, 21-32) MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring. est Evaluatin. and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

22 Table 4. Sea turtle nests affected by tidal activity n Lid Key, Outside Pr.iect Inside Pr.iect Tidal Evt Wash Over Wash Wash Over Wash Out Out Ttal 2011 Tw Years Pst cnstructin Trpical Stnn Lee Unnamed Evts Ttal One Year Pst-cnstructin Trpical I Depressin 5 Unnamed Evts I Ttal 2 7 Unnamed evts Ttal I I I Year f Cnstructin I 0 I 0 I 3 3 I 6 6 MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

23 Table Sa. est damage and prevtative measures tak due t depredatin (including rt invasin) n Lid Key, Ttal nests n beach ests affected % ests affected 17.6% 0% 18.0% Ttal depredatin/invasin evts* ests caged befre depredatin % Caged befre depredatin 5.8% 0% 12.0% ests caged after depredatin % Caged after depredatin 0% 0% 2.0% *Ttal depredation/mvasion evts mclude all mstances fdepredation n a giv nest, i.e. a nest depredated by a ghst crab, fire ants, and a raccn equals three depredatin evts but nly ne nest affected. Table Sb. Idtified nest predatrs n Lid Key, est predatrs Armadill Bbcat Cat Cyte Crw Dg Fire ants Fx Ghst crab Hg Human pached Raccn Rts Turtle Unknwn Ttal depredatin evts MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

24 !Table 6. Ttal incubatin perid f in situ and relcated nests that expericed emergce n Lid Key, In situ Relcated Outside Inside Outside Inside Prject Prject Prject Prject Ttal 2011 Tw Years Pst-cnstructin # fests Average Incubatin (days) Range fincubatin (days) One Year Pst-cnstructin # fests Average Incubatin (days) Range f Incubatin (days) Year f Cnstructin! # fests Average Incubatin (days) Range f Incubatin (days) I MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

25 Table 7. Hatch success fr in situ and relcated nests n Lid Key, Tw Years Pst-cnstructin Inundated ests n-inundated ests Outside Prject Inside Prject Outside Prject Inside Prject Overall Ttal In situ Relcated In situ Relcated Ttal In situ Relcated In situ Relcated Ttal # fests # Hatched # Live Pipped # Dead Pipped # Destryed # Unhatched Ttal Eggs Hatch Success 15.9% % % 62.2% % % 48.6% 2010 One Year Pst-cnstructin Inundated ests n-inundated ests Outside Priect Inside Prject Outside Priect Inside Prject Overall Ttal In situ Relcated In situ Relcated Ttal In situ Relcated In...itu Relcated Ttal # fests # Hatched # Live Pipped I # Dead Pipped # Destryed # Unhatched Ttal Eggs Hatch Success 0.0% % % 50.5% % % 38.0% 2009 Yea r f Cnstructin Inundated ests n-inundated ests Outside Prject Inside Prject Outside Prject Inside Prject Overall Ttal In situ Relcated In...itu Relcated Ttal In situ Relcated In situ Relcated Ttal # fests # Hatched # Live Pipped # Dead Pipped I ifdestryed # Unhatched Ttal Eggs Hatch Success % % % 92.7% MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

26 Table 8. Hatchling emergce success fr in situ and relcated nests n Lid Key, Tw Years Pst-cnstructin Inundated ests n-inundated ests Outside Priect Inside Prject Outside Pr.ject Inside Prject In situ Relcated In situ Relcated Ttal In situ Relcated In situ Relcated Ttal Overall Ttal # f ests # Hatched # Live in est # Dead in nest # Hatchlings emerged Ttal Eggs Emergce Success 12.2% % ~ % 59.4% % % 44.0% 2010 One Year Pst-cnstructin Inundated ests n-inundated ests Outside Prject Inside Prject Outside Prject Inside Prject Ttal Overall Ttal In situ Relcated In situ Relcated Ttal In situ Relcated In situ Relcated # fests I # Hatched # Live in est I # Dead in nest I 1 # Hatchlings emerged Ttal Eggs Emergce Success 0.0% % % 50.2% 36.1% % 37.8% 2009 Year f Cnstructin Inundated ests n-inundated ests Outside Pr_iect Inside Pr_iect Outside Pr.iect_ Inside Pr.ject In situ Relcated In situ Relc~ted Ttal In situ Relcated In situ Relcated Ttal Overall Ttal # fests # Hatched # Live in est # Dead in nest # Hatchlings emerged Ttal Eggs Emergce Success % % % 83.6% MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitrina. est Evaluatin. and Prtectin Measures fr lid Kev

27 Table 9. Sea turtle disritatins n Lid Key, Date est lcatin Turtle(s) attracted t Minimum # Disrited 5/ BFD Suth 1 (Adult) 6/10 7/25 Suth Lid Park, Gulf Side Suth Lid Park, Gulf Side 7/ BFD 7/ BFD 7/27 Unknwn 8/ BFD 8/3 700 BFD 8/ BFD 8/ BFD Prbable light type Skyglw, Flashing white lights bserved dwn the beach Outside/ Inside Pr.iect Inside Suth 1 (Adult) Skyglw Inside rth, 2150 BFD (Sarasta Sands), 1900 BFD (First Lid Cndminium, Inc.), Sutheast tward Siesta Key rth, 1700 BFD (Lid Regcy), 1540 BFD (Helmsley Sandcastle) 1050 BFD (Limetree Beach Resrt), 930 BFD (Gulf Beach Resrt Mtel), 850 BFD Parking Lt (Suntide Island Beach Club), 800 BFD Pl Area (Lid Ambassadr) rth, 614 ft Suth f FDEP BFD (Ritz Carltn Beach Club), 1540 BFD (Helmsley Sandcastle) 700 BFD (Lid Beach Resrt) 1050 BFD (Limetree Beach Resrt) 1540 BFD (Helmsley Sandcastle) 8/ BFD East 1 8/ BFD 1234 BFD (Ritz Carltn Beach Club) 8/ BFD 233 BFD (Hliday Inn) 1 8/ BFD 8/30 Suth End f Lid Beach Pavilin 8/ BFD BFD = B Franklin Drive 1770 BFD(Lid Harbr Twers), 1750 BFD (Key Twers Suth), 1700 BFD (Lid Regcy), 1540 BFD (Helmsley Sandcastle) Lid Public Beach Bathrms 1050 BFD (Limetree Beach Resrt) SFH (Interir & Exterir), Cndminium (Interir & Exterir), Skyglw Cndminium (Interir & Exterir), Skyglw Cnd (Exterir), Parking Lt, Pl Inside Inside Inside 1 Skyglw Outside 6 1 Cndminium (Interir & Exterir) Cndminium (Interir & Exterir), Pl Inside Inside 1 Cndminium (Exterir) Inside Cndminium (Interir & Exterir) Parking lt, Dune Crssver, Street Light, Cndminium (Interir & Exterir), Skyglw Cndminium (Interir & Exterir), Pl Parking Lt, Dune Crssver, Cndminium (Interir & Exterir) Cndminium (Interir & Exterir) Inside Inside Inside Inside Inside 1 Bathrms Inside 66 Cndminium (Interir & Exterir) Inside MOTE MARIE LABORATORY 23 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

28 Table 9. Sea turtle disritatins n Lid Key, 2011 (cntinued). Date est lcatin Turtle(s) attracted t 9/4 1234BFD 9/ BFD BFD = B Franklin Drive 1234 BFD (Ritz Carltn Beach Club), 1540 BFD (Helmsley Sandcastle) 1800 BFD (L'Elegance), 1900 BFD (First Lid Cndminium, Inc.), 1770 BFD (Lid Harbr Twers), 1750 BFD (Key Twers Suth) Minimum # Disrited 2 3 Prbable light type Cndminium (Interir & Exterir) Cndminium (Interir & Exterir) Outsidel Inside Pr.iect Inside Inside MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring. est Evaluatin. and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

29 LIDO KEY BEACH REOURISHMET PROJECT GULF OF MEXICO ATLAnc OCEA PROJECT LOCATIO GULF OF MEXICO PROJECT LOCATIO SARASOTA COUTY WEST PAUA BEACH I,T.S, SHEET 2 GULF OF MEXICO SHEET IDEX O, TlTlE 1 loca no MAP 2-3 PLA VIEW 4-9 FlU PROfiLES 10 BORR()W AREA BATHYMElRY W AREA CRss SECTIOS Figure 1. Lid Key urislunt Prject cnducted in MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

30 Figure 2. A nn-nesting emergce evidt by the abandned nest chamber (tp) and a successful lggerhead nest (bttm). Species is cnfirmed by the alternating flipper tracks, and nest is cnfinned by the thrwn sand duling bdy pitting and nest cvering. MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

31 DO OT DISTURB SEA TURTLE EST VIOLATORS SUBJECT TO FIES AD IMPRISOME Figure 3. Sea tultle nest sign used t idtify nests n Sarasta Cunty beaches (left) and a marked sea turtle nest (light)..est 9, _, _ r_ _ _, 1--, r_ c E :l Z 4 i '".., 0...., GO ::! GO iii 'i iii "l in.,. '9 ' , in GO '"!!!.., in in in CD '" '" '".,. '".., 0 '".., 0...., 0 '9 'i= 'i= p '".., t;- 'i= 'i= "ii p p "".,. ;::: ,.., t:.., ::! '" ;::: "" c.,. CD ;::: ;::: ;::: c c Week.., Figure 4. umber f sea tultle nests and nn-nesting emergces (E) n Lid Key by week in MOTE MARIE LABORATORY 27 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

32 MOTE MARIE LABORATORY 28 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

33 -#Es -#ests 100 /I) CD 80 > ;; 60 u « CD.0 E ::l z CO') II) t- O) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0).... CO') II) t 0).... Year Figure 6. Lid Key sea turtle nesting and nn-nesting emergce (E) data frm est r c E i , _._ Mnumt Figure 7. Distributin f nests and nn-nesting emergces (E) n Lid Key in 2011 by FDEP mnumt. MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

34 II Beach Debris.Beach Furniture DEscarpmt urishmt Pipe.Outfall Basin DRad.Rcks Seawall.Stepped Revetmt.Walkver DVegetatin.Other 70,----, ">., u 01{ '0 ;f! , ,----'---'---, Q Year Figure 8. Perctage f sea turtle activities that cuntered bstacles n Lid Key frm MOTE MARIE LABORATORY 30 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

35 DAnnadili.Bbcat DCyte DDmestic Dg.Fire Ants DFx.Ghst Crab DHg.esting Turtle.Raccn DRts.Unknwn , 25-r :: Year Figure 9. Perctage f nests that were depredated n Lid Key frm l. " $ r::: 30% CI).;:: 25% 0 If) 20% " 15% J!l If) 10% CI) r:::.. 0 5% 0% 0 - "r"" all nests - viable nests... C") "'lit It) UI c Q) "r"" Year Figure 10. Trds in hatchling disritatin evts n Lid Key frm II. MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

36 2 lacndminiums Dune crssver DOther DParking lt.pier Ie Restauranllbar.Sign DSingle Family Residces.Skyglw.Street lights DUnknwn Figure 11. Surces f disritatin evts n Lid Key, MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key

37 ApPEDIX A ESTS AD O-ESTIG EMERGECES

38 MOTE MARIE LABORATORY SEA TURTLE PROGRAM Fr estins call: ",(n1mnl<>.rg r fax: Date: Observer: esufcid#: (date laid, riginal address, bserver) FDEP Mnumt Address: Cnd ame: Key: Zne: t the ORTH: _ Species: 0 Lggerhead (Cc) Gre (Cm) Use # ft S f FDEP Mnumt (e.g., 50S130) fr Znes L 1, SK 68, CK1, V4, V5, V6 D Other: GPS: Lat: 27. Lng:-82. if 'Gre' r 'Other' ptease cntact Mte ---- riginal nest cavity measurmts in est Cavity sectin D E (False Crawl)* D t Verified est' D Verified est" D Unmarked est (UM)'" (fund at later date) Dis!. t tp f eggs D Triangulated? Stake A Stake B ft Stake C ft # f abandnded bdy pits: Draw in diagram ( ) D Op beach D In / At vegetatin BEACH MEASUREMETS: Mean High Water: ft. Upland barrier: ft (vegetatin line, seawall, etc.) D Slped Escarpmt Crawled ver? Y Height: ft Lgth: ft D Vertical Escarpmt D Furniture (take pictures) D Other: Relcatr: _ : 27. Lng: -82. Mean high water Predatin Washing ut CAGE IFORMATIO:,.,. '. CAGE TYPE: D B D B D B Upland barrier: ft D Cnstructin/urishmt D Research/Study Prject " ',':;-ll\"j-:: I'\TJ -r "" Os 0 R Os OR Os DR " J.,L:.lhJ :x_'".1 - ' _ CAGE TYPES: WHE CAGED? OSefre depredatin DAfter depredatin Sefre depredatin DAfter deredatin Sefre depredatin D After depredatin Self Releasing Bx (B), Self Releasing Scre (S), Restraining (R) COMMETS : RFF: 1 LFF: PIT #: SAT TAG? cpy f Tag Frm D ame: -- Radar Glfball? D.. * UM: Address, GPS, est lcatin, Upland (ji.p grtm

39 DEPREDATIO: Optins: Turtle, Racn, Fx, Crab, Armadill, Dg, Cyte Date: Predatr: Date: Predatr: Date: Predatr: Date: Predatr: Encased: PATROLLER Surrace teggs (A): cm DATE(S): Include Strm ame if applicable Surrace t Bttm (B): cm est Wash Over Cavity Width ---i (C): cm B ---tsamples Tak Y --iwhatsamples? -- HUMA DAMAGE take HATCHIG lized D Date: Live in nest: Hatched shells: ---1 Pached D Date: Dead in nest: Live pipped: ----i Details:(Signs, Clues, Hw).. DO OT include 'Live in nest' and Dead in nest' in Ttal Eggs sum" Dead pipped: ----i Unhatched: Mte nly :!::====:I Mte nly L...:..::..:.::;:.:IEE:.:.. -I DO OT add t Ttal Eggs Ylkless eggs: A- 2 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

40 ApPEDIXB FWC MARIE TURTLE DISORIETATIO REPORTS

41 ApPEDIX C SARASOTA COUTY TREDS Sarasta Cunty- lggerhead nesting trds -ests -Es M II) r M II) r State and Cunty trds fr lggerhead nesting 90,000 -Flrida SBS -Sarasta SBS J!l 85,000 1/1 CI) c 80,000 "C ra 3,500 CI) 75,000..c::... & 70,000 CI 3, ,000 f/) III z Cfl ,500 ra "C 1: 50,000 2,000 0 u::: , CO').",...." CO').",...."."."."."." "."."."." "C ra Q)..c::... Q) CI CI 0 J!l z 1/1 Cfl 0 () J!l 0 1/1 ra... ra f/) MOTE MA RIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011 Appdix C - 1

42 Lngbat-S 0 Lid 0 Siesta. Casey Vice. Manasta (I) 3500.c E 3000 :::l c:: - - I/) 2500 (I) c:: "0 c 2000 (I) a (I) J e- 0 li iii iii - M.. It)..,... I Q) Sarasta Cunty - lggerhead nesting dsity (mnitring standardized in 1991) -Lngbat-S -- Lid Siesta -Casey -Vice -Manasta E ' J!l 1/ '"---- =It:.....,....., II).. CJ) MOTE MA RIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011 Appdix C - 2

43 Sarasta Cunty- lggerheads (I) 0.65 cu CI) 0.50 (I) cu 0.45 LL 0.40 J!J 0.35 (I) 0.30 CI) z "f'"" "f'"" M "f'"" ratis f nests: false crawls II) " "f'"" M II) " "f'"" c c c c C "f'"" c c c c c C "f'"" "f'"" "f'"" -Lngbat-S -Lid Siesta -Casey -Vice - Manasta- Sarasta Cunty: Lggerhead esting Success 0.6,----, ji\-- -I- -\-- -I / ,-----, , ,, , "" M C 10.. MOTE MA RIE LA BORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011 Appdix C - 3

44 Sarasta Cunty - gre turtle nests r f-- 25 J!} 20 z I I- I c 0 c -- U IjI I- 1:1 C 0 [] R:I -.:t CD :t U) I- f- l- I- c State and Cunty trds fr gre nesting J!! 10,000 II) CII r::: CII 8,000 t: :::I - r::: CII 6,000 f Cl CI) In 4,000!: n, 'C ';: 2,000 0 LL a -Flrida IBS -Sarasta ) M &I) 0) M &I) 0) c 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) c c c c c 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) c c c c c.... c II) - II) CII r::: CII 30 1:: :::I - 25 r::: CII CII... Cl 20 CI) In Z 15 CI} 0 10 () 0 II) 5 IV... 0 IV CI) MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring. est Evaluatin. and Prtectin Measures fr lid Key 2011 Appdix C - 4

45 Hatch Success fr Mte Patrlled Beaches -LBMC LBK -Lid --SK rth --SK Suth -CK-V u u " III.t: U :;; :I: ,... '" '".. II) 0..,... '" '".. II) II) 0 II) '" ;;; '" ;; Year ;; Hatchling Prductin - beaches surveyed by Mte Marine Labratry " u "." e C>.: :;: l:l.. :I: ' Q E :::J Z I-- I I I-- f- f- f- I- f I I-- I I., I '" '" '" '".. I.,.., '" f- CD II.. I-- '" I-- If-I- :;: Year MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011 Appdix C - 5

46 Perctage f bstructed activities (Lngbat, Lid, Siesta, Casey, Vice) II Beach Debris.Beach Furniture OEscarpmt urishmt Pipe.Outfall Basin DRad.Rcks DSeawall Stepped Revetmt.Watkver OVegetatin IIOther ! 40 : u <t '0 ;! Year % Obstructins n Mte Patrlled Beaches [] Beach Debris Beach Furniture Escarpmt urishmt Pipe IIOutfall Basin [] Rad II Rcks DSeawall II Stepped Revetmt IIWalkver OVegetatin IIOther 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%.2 U 2 50% u;.a ';f!. 40% 30% 20% 10% Year

47 Perctage f nests affected by predatrs (Lngbat, Lid, Siesta, Casey, Vice) DArmadili.Sbcat DCyte Dmestic Dg.FireAnts Fx.GhstCrab DHg.estingTurtle.Raccn DRts.Unknwn 35, !l '".. z 20 ;f! Year % Depredatins by type n Mte Patrlled Beaches IIlArmadili.Bbcat DCyte D Dmestic Dg.Fire Ants Fx.Ghst Crab DHg.esting Turtle.Raccn DRts. Unknwn 100%,-, r--- 90% 80% 70% '" c: 60%.2.., a. GO C 50% ;f!. 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Year MOTE MA RIE LABORATORY Appdix C - 7 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

48 Disritatins as % f all nests -Lngbat Key -Lid Key Siesta Key -Casey Key -Vice 45% 40% 35 k % 25 k i I 20% 15% 100/ % t == j 0%., M "It It) CD,... c Categries f 2011 Turtle Disrie ntatin s (Lngbat, Lid, Siesta, Ca sey, Vice) [J Cndminiums Parking lt Dune crssver Pier Other Restaurant/bar Single Family Residces 0 Skyglw Street lights , Lngbat Lid Siesta Casey Vice Key MOTE MARIE LABORATORY Appdix C - 8 Sea Turtle Mnitring, est Evaluatin, and Prtectin Measures fr Lid Key 2011

49 ApPEDIXD PHOTOGRAPHS AD ICIDETAL OTES

50 APPEDIX 01. TURTLES OBSERVED DURIG DAYLIGHT HOURS Table D1-1. Lggerheads bserved during daylight hurs, 20 II. Date Key Zne est ID Time Observatins 17-May CASEY X 5/ CKRSHC 07:00 Laying. tags. 2-Jun CASEY 9 6/2 718SCKRMJP 06:45 Laying 7-Jun LIDO 4 6/7 SLPCSMF Leaving beach. Vlunteer saw n Ipatrl 10-Jun SIESTA 5B MPRSEHFC False crawling. tags. Vlunteer saw n patrl Crawled ut f water at 08: Jun LOGBOAT 3 6/ GMDK TM 08:45-09:37 Tags, 90cm CCL, 86cm CCW 29-Jun LOGBOAT C GMDJRS Tags. 90cm CCL Cvering. Left beach at II am. 13-Jul VEICE IS VALRAB II :00 tags r scars. 95cm CCL, 90cm CCW 6-Aug CASEY XC 8/64029CKRMJP 06:30 Cvering Pht? Y Y Y Y Y Figure Pht dcumtatin f lggerheads bserved during daylight hurs.