Exploring the demography and conservation needs of hawksbill sea turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in north-west Mexico

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Lourdes Martínez-Estévez¹  Abelino Angulo Angulo²  Mayra Estrella Astorga³  Cosme Damián Becerra⁴  Nazario Campaña Leyva⁵  Felipe Cuevas Amador⁶  Juan Pablo Cuevas Amador⁶  Tania de la Vega Carvajal⁷  Anely Fernández Robledo⁸  Alexander R. Gaos⁹  Catherine E. Hart^1,10  Amy Hudson Weaver  José Luis López^1,11  Jesus Lucero^1,12  Israel Llamas^1,13  Agnese Mancini^1,12  Karen Oceguera^1,12  Jeffrey A. Seminoff^1,14  Bernie R. Tershy^1,15  Ingrid L. Yañez^1,16  Alan Zavala-Norzagaray^1,10  Donald A. Croll¹ 

[1] BERNIE R. TERSHY and DONALD A. CROLL Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz;Angostura Vive Verde A.C.;Tortugueros Comcáac Desemboque;Grupo Tortuguero de Bahía Kino;Sociedad de Pescadores El Brinco S.C.;Isla El Pardito;Amigos para la Conservación de Cabo Pulmo A.C.;Departamento de Oceanografía Biológica;NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center;Instituto Politécnico Nacional;Tortugueros Comcáac Punta Chueca;Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias A.C.;Eco Mayto A.C.;Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center;Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz;Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative

关键词: Critically Endangered species;    Eastern Pacific;    Eretmochelys imbricata;    foraging grounds;    Gulf of California;    hawksbill sea turtle;    Mexican Pacific;    turtle foraging grounds;   

DOI  :  10.1017/S0030605322000709

来源: Cambridge Core

【 摘 要 】

The hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and its population has declined by over 80% in the last century. The Eastern Pacific population is one of the most threatened hawksbill populations globally. Western Mexico is the northern distribution limit for hawksbill sea turtles in the Eastern Pacific and recent research indicates that the Mexican Pacific portion of the population is a separate management unit because of the restricted movements of these turtles. Here we use the most complete database of sighting records in the north-west Pacific of Mexico to identify sites where hawksbill turtles are present. We also develop a conservation index to determine the conservation status of hawksbill turtle sites. Our results demonstrate the importance of this region for juveniles and the relevance of rocky reefs and mangrove estuaries as habitats for hawksbill turtles. We identified 52 sites with records of hawksbill turtles. Most of these sites (71%) are not protected; however, sites with high conservation value included islands and coastal sites along the Baja California peninsula that are established as marine protected areas. Reefs and mangrove estuaries relevant for hawksbill turtles are probably also significant fish nursery areas that are important for local fishing communities, creating opportunities for conservation strategies that combine science, local engagement and policy to benefit both local fishing communities and hawksbill sea turtle conservation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown