TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the demography and conservation needs of hawksbill sea turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in north-west Mexico
AU - Martínez-Estévez, Lourdes
AU - Angulo Angulo, Abelino
AU - Astorga, Mayra Estrella
AU - Becerra, Cosme Damián
AU - Leyva, Nazario Campaña
AU - Amador, Felipe Cuevas
AU - Amador, Juan Pablo Cuevas
AU - De La Vega Carvajal, Tania
AU - Robledo, Anely Fernández
AU - Gaos, Alexander R.
AU - Hart, Catherine E.
AU - Weaver, Amy Hudson
AU - López, José Luis
AU - Lucero, Jesus
AU - Llamas, Israel
AU - Mancini, Agnese
AU - Oceguera, Karen
AU - Seminoff, Jeffrey A.
AU - Tershy, Bernie R.
AU - Yañez, Ingrid L.
AU - Zavala-Norzagaray, Alan
AU - Croll, Donald A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International.
PY - 2023/5/18
Y1 - 2023/5/18
N2 - The hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and its population has declined by over 80% in the last century. The Eastern Pacific population is one of the most threatened hawksbill populations globally. Western Mexico is the northern distribution limit for hawksbill sea turtles in the Eastern Pacific and recent research indicates that the Mexican Pacific portion of the population is a separate management unit because of the restricted movements of these turtles. Here we use the most complete database of sighting records in the north-west Pacific of Mexico to identify sites where hawksbill turtles are present. We also develop a conservation index to determine the conservation status of hawksbill turtle sites. Our results demonstrate the importance of this region for juveniles and the relevance of rocky reefs and mangrove estuaries as habitats for hawksbill turtles. We identified 52 sites with records of hawksbill turtles. Most of these sites (71%) are not protected; however, sites with high conservation value included islands and coastal sites along the Baja California peninsula that are established as marine protected areas. Reefs and mangrove estuaries relevant for hawksbill turtles are probably also significant fish nursery areas that are important for local fishing communities, creating opportunities for conservation strategies that combine science, local engagement and policy to benefit both local fishing communities and hawksbill sea turtle conservation.
AB - The hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and its population has declined by over 80% in the last century. The Eastern Pacific population is one of the most threatened hawksbill populations globally. Western Mexico is the northern distribution limit for hawksbill sea turtles in the Eastern Pacific and recent research indicates that the Mexican Pacific portion of the population is a separate management unit because of the restricted movements of these turtles. Here we use the most complete database of sighting records in the north-west Pacific of Mexico to identify sites where hawksbill turtles are present. We also develop a conservation index to determine the conservation status of hawksbill turtle sites. Our results demonstrate the importance of this region for juveniles and the relevance of rocky reefs and mangrove estuaries as habitats for hawksbill turtles. We identified 52 sites with records of hawksbill turtles. Most of these sites (71%) are not protected; however, sites with high conservation value included islands and coastal sites along the Baja California peninsula that are established as marine protected areas. Reefs and mangrove estuaries relevant for hawksbill turtles are probably also significant fish nursery areas that are important for local fishing communities, creating opportunities for conservation strategies that combine science, local engagement and policy to benefit both local fishing communities and hawksbill sea turtle conservation.
KW - Critically Endangered species
KW - Eastern Pacific
KW - Eretmochelys imbricata
KW - Gulf of California
KW - Mexican Pacific
KW - foraging grounds
KW - hawksbill sea turtle
KW - turtle foraging grounds
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85160656613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0030605322000709
DO - 10.1017/S0030605322000709
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85160656613
SN - 0030-6053
VL - 57
SP - 392
EP - 400
JO - ORYX
JF - ORYX
IS - 3
ER -