Hypothermic stunning of green sea turtles in a western Gulf of Mexico foraging habitat

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dc.contributor.authorShaver, Donna J.
dc.contributor.authorTissot, Philippe
dc.contributor.authorStreich, Mary M.
dc.contributor.authorWalker, J. Shelby
dc.contributor.authorRubio, Cynthia
dc.contributor.authorAmos, Anthony F.
dc.contributor.authorGeorge, Jeffrey A.
dc.contributor.authorPasawicz, Michelle R.
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-8974en_US
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2954-2378en_US
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3446-2073en_US
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-8974
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2954-2378
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3446-2073
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-8974
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2954-2378
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3446-2073http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-8974
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2954-2378
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3446-2073
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-8974
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2954-2378
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3446-2073
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-8974
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2954-2378
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3446-2073
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-21T20:39:29Z
dc.date.available2022-03-21T20:39:29Z
dc.date.issued2017-03-17
dc.description.abstractTexas waters provide one of the most important developmental and foraging habitats for juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the western Gulf of Mexico, but hypothermic stunning is a significant threat and was the largest cause of green turtle strandings in Texas from 1980 through 2015; of the 8,107 green turtles found stranded, 4,529 (55.9%) were victims of hypothermic stunning. Additionally, during this time, 203 hypothermic stunned green turtles were found incidentally captured due to power plant water intake entrapment. Overall, 63.9% of 4,529 hypothermic stunned turtles were found alive, and 92.0% of those survived rehabilitation and were released. Numbers of green turtles recorded as stranded and as affected by hypothermic stunning increased over time, and were most numerous from 2007 through 2015. Large hypothermic stunning events (with more than 450 turtles documented) occurred during the winters of 2009–2010, 2010–2011, 2013–2014, and 2014–2015. Hypothermic stunning was documented between November and March, but peaked at various times depending on passage of severe weather systems. Hypothermic stunning occurred state-wide, but was most prevalent in South Texas, particularly the Laguna Madre. In the Laguna Madre, hypothermic stunning was associated with an abrupt drop in water temperatures strong northerly winds, and a threshold mean water temperature of 8.0°C predicted large turtle hypothermic stunning events. Knowledge of environmental parameters contributing to hypothermic stunning and the temporal and spatial distribution of turtles affected in the past, can aid with formulation of proactive, targeted search and rescue efforts that can ultimately save the lives of many affected individuals, and aid with recovery efforts for this bi-national stock. Such rescue efforts are required under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and respond to humanitarian concerns of the public.en_US
dc.description.abstractTexas waters provide one of the most important developmental and foraging habitats for juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the western Gulf of Mexico, but hypothermic stunning is a significant threat and was the largest cause of green turtle strandings in Texas from 1980 through 2015; of the 8,107 green turtles found stranded, 4,529 (55.9%) were victims of hypothermic stunning. Additionally, during this time, 203 hypothermic stunned green turtles were found incidentally captured due to power plant water intake entrapment. Overall, 63.9% of 4,529 hypothermic stunned turtles were found alive, and 92.0% of those survived rehabilitation and were released. Numbers of green turtles recorded as stranded and as affected by hypothermic stunning increased over time, and were most numerous from 2007 through 2015. Large hypothermic stunning events (with more than 450 turtles documented) occurred during the winters of 2009–2010, 2010–2011, 2013–2014, and 2014–2015. Hypothermic stunning was documented between November and March, but peaked at various times depending on passage of severe weather systems. Hypothermic stunning occurred state-wide, but was most prevalent in South Texas, particularly the Laguna Madre. In the Laguna Madre, hypothermic stunning was associated with an abrupt drop in water temperatures strong northerly winds, and a threshold mean water temperature of 8.0°C predicted large turtle hypothermic stunning events. Knowledge of environmental parameters contributing to hypothermic stunning and the temporal and spatial distribution of turtles affected in the past, can aid with formulation of proactive, targeted search and rescue efforts that can ultimately save the lives of many affected individuals, and aid with recovery efforts for this bi-national stock. Such rescue efforts are required under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and respond to humanitarian concerns of the public.
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by the National Park Service. The funders provided support in the form of salaries for authors [DJS PET MMS JSW CR AFA JAG MRP], but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ’author contributions’ section.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by the National Park Service. The funders provided support in the form of salaries for authors [DJS PET MMS JSW CR AFA JAG MRP], but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ’author contributions’ section.
dc.identifier.citationShaver, D.J., Tissot, P.E., Streich, M.M., Walker, J.S., Rubio, C., Amos, A.F., George, J.A. and Pasawicz, M.R., 2017. Hypothermic stunning of green sea turtles in a western Gulf of Mexico foraging habitat. PLoS One, 12(3), p.e0173920.en_US
dc.identifier.citationShaver, D.J., Tissot, P.E., Streich, M.M., Walker, J.S., Rubio, C., Amos, A.F., George, J.A. and Pasawicz, M.R., 2017. Hypothermic stunning of green sea turtles in a western Gulf of Mexico foraging habitat. PLoS One, 12(3), p.e0173920.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173920
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/90289
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherPLOSen_US
dc.publisherPLOS
dc.rightsCC0 1.0 Universal*
dc.rightsCC0 1.0 Universal
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
dc.subjectmexicoen_US
dc.subjectsea turtlesen_US
dc.subjectseaen_US
dc.subjectwestern gulf of mexicoen_US
dc.subjectstunning of green sea turtlesen_US
dc.subjectmexico
dc.subjectsea turtles
dc.subjectsea
dc.subjectwestern gulf of mexico
dc.subjectstunning of green sea turtles
dc.titleHypothermic stunning of green sea turtles in a western Gulf of Mexico foraging habitaten_US
dc.titleHypothermic stunning of green sea turtles in a western Gulf of Mexico foraging habitat
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.typeArticle

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