FWRI EPDC NonNeonate SeaTurtle Observations

Shigetomo Hirama; Robert Hardy; Blair Witherington; Robert Hardy; Blair Witherington

doi:10.15468/85er9t

FWRI EPDC NonNeonate SeaTurtle Observations

Citation

Hirama, S., B. Witherington and R. Hardy. 2014. FWRI EPDC NonNeonate SeaTurtle Observations. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/483) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/85er9t accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-14.

Description

Original provider: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Marine Turtle Research Program Dataset credits: Blair Witherington, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Robert Hardy, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Abstract: These data describe observations of subadult and adult sea turtles that were observed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff ancillary to a study of the ecology of neonate sea turtles inhabiting epipelagic drift communities of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Animals were observed by researchers aboard an 8.2 m power catamaran vessel launched from four ports along the west coast of Florida (Pensacola, Apalachicola, Sarasota, and Marco Island), United States. Researchers observed aggregations of loggerheads in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, off Florida's west coast, during twelve sampling trips in August 2005, June 2006, July 2008 and August 2008. Observations of juvenile, subadult and adult loggerheads are rare in this study and considered ancillary as the effort targets posthatchling (> 10 cm straight carapace length) sea turtles inhabiting lines of floating pelagic debris and Sargassum. Loggerhead turtle sizes included three groupings: Adult (> 90 cm SCL), Subadult (45-90 cm SCL), and Juvenile (< 45 cm SCL). During this time 78 loggerheads (Caretta caretta), 1 Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and 2 unidentified turtles were observed. Sea turtle observations were made by two experienced observers who kept watch for sargassum habitat (for neonate studies) and large turtles (to avoid collisions). Vessel paths fanned out from each port to depths up to 300 m, with a mean path approximately perpendicular to the coastline. Purpose: These data describe the geographic positions of juvenile, subadult, and adult sea turtle observations which were made ancillary to a long-term study of the ecology of neonate sea turtles inhabiting epipelagic drift communities of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Attributes describe the date of observation, species, age class, latitude, longitude, the distance from transect to observation, and city of the port of departure. Supplemental information: Prior to July 1, 2004, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) was known as the Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI). The institute name has not been changed in historical data sets or references to work completed by the Florida Marine Research Institute. The institute name has been changed in references to ongoing research, new research, and contact information.

Purpose

These data describe the geographic positions of juvenile, subadult, and adult sea turtle observations which were made ancillary to a long-term study of the ecology of neonate sea turtles inhabiting epipelagic drift communities of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Attributes describe the date of observation, species, age class, latitude, longitude, the distance from transect to observation, and city of the port of departure.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Caretta caretta
common name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle rank: species
Chelonia mydas
common name: Green Sea Turtle rank: species
Dermochelys coriacea
common name: Leatherback Sea Turtle rank: species
Eretmochelys imbricata
common name: Hawksbill Sea Turtle rank: species
Cheloniidae
common name: Sea Turtles rank: family

Geographic Coverages

Florida,Gulf of Mexico

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Shigetomo Hirama
originator
position: Primary contact
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
email: Tomo.Hirama@MyFWC.com

Robert Hardy
originator
position: Secondary contact
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
email: Robert.Hardy@MyFWC.com

Blair Witherington
originator
position: Secondary contact
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
email: None

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Shigetomo Hirama
owner
position: Primary contact
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
email: Tomo.Hirama@MyFWC.com

Robert Hardy
originator
position: Secondary contact
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
email: Robert.Hardy@MyFWC.com

Blair Witherington
originator
position: Secondary contact
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
email: None

Shigetomo Hirama
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
email: Tomo.Hirama@MyFWC.com