Survival of Head-Started Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) Released Into the Gulf of Mexico or Adjacent Bays
Caillouet CW, Fontaine CT, Manzella-Tirpak SA, Shaver DJ. 1995. Survival of Head-Started Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) Released Into the Gulf of Mexico or Adjacent Bays. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 1(4)
During the Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) head-start experiment, theNational Marine Fisheries Service's Galveston Laboratory reared, tagged, and released 22,255yearlings of the 1978 to 1992 year classes along the coasts of Texas, west Florida, and Campeche, Mexico. A total of 805 recaptures were recorded (3.6% of the yearlings released). Annual survival rate, S, was estimated from recaptures of successive age groups. Values of S2_3 (annual survival rate estimated from recaptures of age groups 2 and 3 years) were probably more reliable than those of S3_4 and S4_S' because they were based on larger numbers of recaptures. For Texas releases S2_3 ranged from 0.10 in the 1980 year class to 0.43 in the 1986 year class. For Florida releases S2_3 ranged from 0.36 in the 1978 year class to 0.50 in the 1979 year class. With recaptures from year classes combined, S2_3 was lower for Texas releases (0.15) than for Florida releases (0.39). Because of tag loss and uncontrollable factors affecting the reporting of recaptures, S estimated from recaptures of foreflipper-tagged turtles are crude approximations which underestimate true survival at sea. Aconstant S of 0.45 would be required to produce one survivor at age 10 yr (assumed age at maturity) from the average Texas release of 1437 yearlings per year. If S were higher than 0.45 or increased with age, then more head-started ridleys could have survived. It remains to be determined whether head-started Kemp's ridleys survive to maturity and nest.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Caillouet, Charles; Fontaine, Clark; Manzella-Tirpak, Sharon; Shaver, Donna
- Date of Issue
- 1995-08
- Units
- PAIS
- Keywords
- Reptilia; Testudines; Cheloniidae; Lepidochelys kempii; sea turtle; survival; headstart; captive rearing; reintroduction; endangered species; Gulf of Mexico; Mexico; United States; Padre Island National Seashore