Growth rates and residency of immature green turtles at Kiholo Bay, HI
Balazs GH, Rice M, Murakawa SK, Watson G. 2000. Growth rates and residency of immature green turtles at Kiholo Bay, HI. Pages 283-285. In Abreu-Grobois FA, Briseno-Duenas R, Marquez-Milan R, Sarti-Martinez L: Proceedings of the 18th International Sea turtle Symposium (16th sym addendum). Sinaloa, Mexico. March 3-7, 1998. NOAA Tech. Memo NMFS-SEFSC-436; U.S. Dept. Commerce
Long-term studies of green turtles, Chelonia mydas (honu), in nearshore waters of the Hawaiian Islands have been underway to obtain comprehensive information on growth rates, food sources, habitat use, developmental and reproductive migrations, underwater behaviors, health status, and population trends (Balazs, 1980, 1982, 1991, in press; Balazs et al., 1987, 1993, 1994a, 1994b; Russell and Balazs, 1994). The Hawaiian Archipelago includes 132 islands and reefs extending for 2400 km across the North Pacific. However, the eight main islands at the southeastern end of the chain account for nearly all coastal benthic habitats suitable for foraging and resting by post-pelagic green turtles. Adult males and females residing throughout the chain migrate to breed at isolated French Frigate Shoals (23° 47'N, 166° 12'W) situated at the mid-point of the archipelago (Balazs, 1976, 1980, 1983). Systematic monitoring at this site for 23 consecutive seasons (1973-95) has documented an approximate threefold increase in the number of nesting females (Fig. 1). This encouraging sign of population recovery is attributed to protection extended in 1978 under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Similar increases have been seen for immature turtles inhabiting nearshore waters of the main islands, such as reported here for Kiholo Bay.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Balazs, George; Rice, Marc; Murakawa, Shawn; Watson, George
- Units
- ALKA , KAHO , PUHO
- Keywords
- Chelonia mydas, green sea turtle, Growth rates, Hawaii, Kiholo Bay, Life History, Migration