Logo image
Reproductive output and ultrasonography of an endangered population of East Pacific green turtles
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Reproductive output and ultrasonography of an endangered population of East Pacific green turtles

Gabriela S. Blanco, Stephen J. Morreale, Elizabeth Velez, Rotney Piedra, Wilder M. Montes, Frank V. Paladino and James R. Spotila
The Journal of wildlife management, v 76(4), pp 841-846
01 May 2012

Abstract

Ecology Environmental Sciences & Ecology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Zoology
Reproductive output is one of the most relevant aspects of life history. We analyzed the reproductive output of the endangered East Pacific green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting in Nombre de Jesus, Costa Rica. We supplemented beach patrols with ultrasonography to estimate clutch frequency. With ultrasound scans, we classified the stage of turtle ovaries as: early stage (2 or more clutches), late stage (1 clutch), and depleted ovaries (no clutches). We calculated mean (+/- SD) estimated clutch frequency (ECF) to be 3.7 +/- 1.8 (n?=?24) and an adjusted frequency considering individual stage (ECFU; ECF?+?number of clutches remaining as observed in the last ultrasound) as 5.1 +/- 1.3. This is greater than previously described for East Pacific green turtles. Greater individual output could be representative of a healthier population; but could also indicate a decrease in the estimate population numbers previously reported. (C) 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Metrics

12 Record Views
30 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#15 Life on Land
#13 Climate Action

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Ecology
Zoology
Logo image