The Negative Effects of Beach The Negative Effects of Beach Renourishment on Sea Turtle Renourishment on Sea Turtle

NestingNesting

What is a Sea Turtle?What is a Sea Turtle?

Sea turtle: Sea turtle: A large air breathing reptile that spends most A large air breathing reptile that spends most of it’s life in the water. It comes on land only if it is a nesting of it’s life in the water. It comes on land only if it is a nesting female, or if it is dead or dying.female, or if it is dead or dying.

Mating/NestingMating/Nesting

• What factors affect mating/nesting?What factors affect mating/nesting?• Time of year that mating occurs- late spring to Time of year that mating occurs- late spring to late summerlate summer

• Frequency of mating- most turtles mate every Frequency of mating- most turtles mate every two to three yearstwo to three years

• Habitat that females choose to nest inHabitat that females choose to nest in

The Mating Process...The Mating Process...

• Male and female turtle meet offshore to mateMale and female turtle meet offshore to mate

• Female then returns to the same beach that she was Female then returns to the same beach that she was born to lay her clutch (eggs)born to lay her clutch (eggs)

Nesting cont’d...Nesting cont’d...• Upon reaching the beach, the female drags her heavy Upon reaching the beach, the female drags her heavy body on shorebody on shore

• She crawls to a point above the high water mark where She crawls to a point above the high water mark where she will then dig a body pitshe will then dig a body pit

Nesting cont’d...Nesting cont’d...

• Once body pit is dug female lays a clutch of about 100 Once body pit is dug female lays a clutch of about 100 eggseggs

• Female then covers the eggs and leaves them to incubate Female then covers the eggs and leaves them to incubate and hatch, never to return to the siteand hatch, never to return to the site

So What is the Problem?So What is the Problem?

Beach RenourishmentBeach Renourishment

RenourishmentRenourishment

• Beach renourishment is a solution to dealing with Beach renourishment is a solution to dealing with the rapid erosion of beachesthe rapid erosion of beaches

• Sediment from an alternative source is brought in Sediment from an alternative source is brought in and placed on the existing shoreline to make it largerand placed on the existing shoreline to make it larger

• Renourishment is mostly done for economic reasons, Renourishment is mostly done for economic reasons, such as attracting tourists to the beachessuch as attracting tourists to the beaches

• In Miami Beach renourishment increased beach In Miami Beach renourishment increased beach attendance from 8 million in 1978 to 21 million in 1983attendance from 8 million in 1978 to 21 million in 1983

Problems with RenourishmentProblems with Renourishment

• If renourishment is done at the wrong time of the If renourishment is done at the wrong time of the year (nesting season) it can cover nestsyear (nesting season) it can cover nests

• Equipment can compact the sand or make trenches Equipment can compact the sand or make trenches that the turtles cannot breach to get high enough that the turtles cannot breach to get high enough above the water lineabove the water line

• Steep berms often form preventing females from Steep berms often form preventing females from nesting or causing them to nest below the high water nesting or causing them to nest below the high water markmark

Problems with RenourishmentProblems with Renourishment

• Replaced sand is often harder (more resistant to Replaced sand is often harder (more resistant to shear) than the natural sand and it is usually not shear) than the natural sand and it is usually not the same materialthe same material

• Harder sand often results in a nest of Harder sand often results in a nest of inappropriate size or depthinappropriate size or depth

• More compact sand or sand of a different size More compact sand or sand of a different size can also results in insufficient gas exchange, can also results in insufficient gas exchange, change in nest temperature (important for change in nest temperature (important for determining turtles sex), and nest moisturedetermining turtles sex), and nest moisture

• Regulate when renourishment is Regulate when renourishment is donedone

• Require nest surveys, nest Require nest surveys, nest marking, and nest relocationmarking, and nest relocation

• Modify methods to reduce Modify methods to reduce compactioncompaction

• Renourish with sediment of similar Renourish with sediment of similar grain size and compositiongrain size and composition

Dealing with Renourishment- NationallyDealing with Renourishment- Nationally

• Because so little is known about sea turtles and their Because so little is known about sea turtles and their nesting behaviors it is important to protect themnesting behaviors it is important to protect them

• Federal Endangered Species Act Federal Endangered Species Act

• Section 7: Actions are not likely to jeopardize Section 7: Actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitadverse modification of the critical habit

• Section 9: prohibits the sale, import, export, or Section 9: prohibits the sale, import, export, or transport of any endangered species and most transport of any endangered species and most threatened species, and makes it unlawful to threatened species, and makes it unlawful to “take” them“take” them

Dealing with Renourishment- LocallyDealing with Renourishment- Locally

• Most states have their own laws and agencies dealing Most states have their own laws and agencies dealing with protecting sea turtleswith protecting sea turtles

• Ex. Florida- FESA and Marine Turtle Protection Ex. Florida- FESA and Marine Turtle Protection ActAct

• Beach and coastal actsBeach and coastal acts

• Often require permits to be obtained for Often require permits to be obtained for renourishment which allows authorities to regulate renourishment which allows authorities to regulate when it is donewhen it is done

References citedReferences cited

www.law.fsu.edu/journals/landuse/Vol132/Butl.htmwww.law.fsu.edu/journals/landuse/Vol132/Butl.htm

www.cccturtle.org/behav.htmwww.cccturtle.org/behav.htm

www.brookdale.cc.nj.us/staff/sandyhook/dgrant/field/dollars.htmwww.brookdale.cc.nj.us/staff/sandyhook/dgrant/field/dollars.htm

www.turtles.orgwww.turtles.org

Steinitz et al. 1998. Beach Renourishment and Loggerhead Turtle Steinitz et al. 1998. Beach Renourishment and Loggerhead Turtle Reproduction: A Seven Year Study at Jupiter Island, Florida. Reproduction: A Seven Year Study at Jupiter Island, Florida. Journal Journal of Coastal Researchof Coastal Research, 14:3, 1000-1013, 14:3, 1000-1013

The Effect of Beach Nourishment with Aragonite Versus Silicate Sand The Effect of Beach Nourishment with Aragonite Versus Silicate Sand on Beach Temperature and Loggerhead Sea Turtle nesting Success. on Beach Temperature and Loggerhead Sea Turtle nesting Success. Journal of Coastal ResearchJournal of Coastal Research. 13:3, 904-915. 13:3, 904-915