Occurrence of sea turtles during seismic surveys in Northeastern Brazil

Biota Neotropica

Cristiano Leite Parente¹  Juliana Doyle Lontra¹  Maria Elisabeth De Araújo¹ 

[1],Federal University of Pernambuco Department of Oceanography

关键词: sea turtles;    seismic survey;    sea-life surveys;    South America;    Northeastern Brazil;    tartaruga marinha;    prospecção sísmica;    monitoramento de animais marinhos;    América do Sul;    Nordeste do Brasil;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1676-06032006000100004

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

There are seven species of sea turtles around the world. Among these, five visit the northeast coast of Brazil to reproduce and feed. These sea turtles are impacted by human activity and need conservation measures. The seismic survey is one of these activities due to its high intensity and low frequency sound emissions in the marine environment. Records of sea turtles during seismic surveys in shallow waters of the northeast of Brazil between 2002 and 2003 are presented in this study with some discussion about the effectiveness of the monitoring procedures. Three species of sea turtle were recorded within the seismic survey areas. The Chelonia mydas species was the most commonly sighted turtle. There was only one record of Caretta caretta and Lepidochelys olivacea. The presence of sea turtles in Sergipe state was linked to the reproductive period while this pattern was not observed in Ceará state. The absence of information about distribution and abundance of sea turtles in the surveyed areas previous to and after the seismic surveys, as well as numerous incomplete data make it hard to identify the effect of seismic surveys on those factors and also sea turtle behaviors.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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