Journal article
Multidecadal trends in the nesting phenology of Pacific and Atlantic leatherback turtles are associated with population demography
Endangered species research, v 24(3), pp 197-206
01 Jan 2014
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Knowledge of the mechanisms influencing phenology can provide insights into the adaptability of species to climate change. Here, we investigated the factors influencing multidecadal trends in the nesting phenology of the leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea at Playa Grande, Costa Rica, in the eastern Pacific Ocean and at Sandy Point, US Virgin Islands, in the western Atlantic Ocean. Between 1993 and 2013, the median nesting date (MND) at Playa Grande occurred later, at a rate of similar to 0.3 d yr(-1). In contrast, between 1982 and 2010, the MND at Sandy Point occurred earlier, at a rate of similar to 0.17 d yr(-1). The opposing trends in the MND of each population were not explained by variation in the multivariate El Nino-Southern Oscillation index, North Atlantic Oscillation index, or Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation index; however, the MND at Playa Grande was significantly correlated with nesting population size. We propose that changes in demography, linked to the population decline at Playa Grande, and the population recovery at Sandy Point may explain the contrasting trends in MNDs. If the observed trends in MND continue into the future, the nesting season at Playa Grande will coincide with increasingly adverse conditions for hatching success, exacerbating the already detrimental effects of climate change. Alternatively, shifts in the nesting phenology may make the Atlantic populations more resilient to climate change. Our findings highlight the increasing need for conservation efforts for eastern Pacific leatherback turtles to consider climate change mitigation practices.
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Details
- Title
- Multidecadal trends in the nesting phenology of Pacific and Atlantic leatherback turtles are associated with population demography
- Creators
- Nathan J. Robinson - Purdue University SystemSara E. Valentine - Indiana Univ Purdue Univ, Dept Biol, Ft Wayne, IN 46805 USAPilar Santidrian Tomillo - CSIC UIB, IMEDEA, Inst Mediterrani Estudis Avancats, Populat Ecol Grp, Esporles 07190, Mallorca, SpainVincent S. Saba - NOAA, Natl Marine Fisheries Serv, Northeast Fisheries Sci Ctr, Geophys Fluid Dynam Lab, Princeton, NJ 08540 USAJames R. Spotila - Drexel UniversityFrank V. Paladino - Indiana Univ Purdue Univ, Dept Biol, Ft Wayne, IN 46805 USA
- Publication Details
- Endangered species research, v 24(3), pp 197-206
- Publisher
- Inter-Research
- Number of pages
- 14
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000337973100002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84987679525
- Other Identifier
- 991019169902004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation