Current Search:  Sea turtles -- Nests -- St. Croix -- Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge United States Virgin Islands (x)

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Predicting leatherback sea turtle sex ratios using spatial interpolation of nesting beach temperatures
Title
Predicting leatherback sea turtle sex ratios using spatial interpolation of nesting beach temperatures.
Creator
Weston, Emily G., Wyneken, Jeanette, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description
Sex determination in leatherback sea turtles is directed primarily by the temperatures a clutch experiences during the middle third of development. Warmer temperatures tend to produce females will cooler temperatures yield males. Nest temperatures can vary spatially and temporally. During the 2010 and 2011 nesting seasons, this study estimated the hatchling sex ratio of leatherback sea turtles on Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR), St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. I measured sand...
Show moreSex determination in leatherback sea turtles is directed primarily by the temperatures a clutch experiences during the middle third of development. Warmer temperatures tend to produce females will cooler temperatures yield males. Nest temperatures can vary spatially and temporally. During the 2010 and 2011 nesting seasons, this study estimated the hatchling sex ratio of leatherback sea turtles on Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR), St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. I measured sand temperatures from May- August and across the spatial range of leatherback nesting habitat. I spatially interpolated those temperatures to create maps that predicted temperatures for all nests incubating on SPWNR. Nest temperatures were also directly measured and compared with predicted nest temperatures to validate the prediction model. Sexes of dead-in-nest hatchlings and full term embryos were used to confirm the sex-temperature response. The model showed that microclimatic variation likely impacts the production of both sexes on SPNWR.
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Date Issued
2013
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004071
Subject Headings
Leatherback turtle -- Habitat -- St. Croix -- Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (United States Virgin Islands), Loggerhead turtle -- Effect of temperature on, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (United States Virgin Islands), Sea turtles -- Nests -- St. Croix -- Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (United States Virgin Islands), Sex determination, Genetic, Sex ratios, Vegetation dynamics
Format
Document (PDF)
The distribution of predaceous fire ant species on important sea turtle nesting beaches in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Title
The distribution of predaceous fire ant species on important sea turtle nesting beaches in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Creator
Balkaran, Kavita, Wetterer, James K., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description
The tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata is a New World species with a wide native range including South America as well as several Caribbean islands. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta is native to parts of South America. Both species are known for preying on sea turtles’ eggs and hatchlings. The objectives of this thesis research were to conduct follow-up and baseline ant species distribution surveys on four sea turtle nesting beaches in St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. Tuna...
Show moreThe tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata is a New World species with a wide native range including South America as well as several Caribbean islands. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta is native to parts of South America. Both species are known for preying on sea turtles’ eggs and hatchlings. The objectives of this thesis research were to conduct follow-up and baseline ant species distribution surveys on four sea turtle nesting beaches in St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. Tuna baits were set out at beaches; specimens were collected, frozen, preserved then identified. Results show that there was a significant change in the fire ants’ distribution at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR) while none were found at Jack Bay. Fire ants were also present on the other two baseline surveyed nesting beaches. The displacement of S. geminata by S. invicta was observed at SPNWR, which also was presumed by previous surveys.
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Date Issued
2014
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004077, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004077
Subject Headings
Biological invasions, Fire ants -- St. Croix -- Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (United States Virgin Islands) -- Geographical distribution, Predation (Biology), Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (United States Virgin Islands), Sea turtles -- Nests -- St. Croix -- Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (United States Virgin Islands)
Format
Document (PDF)