Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles

1. Overview

• An Introduction to the Evolution, Life History, and Biology of Sea Turtles (A. B. Meylan and P. A. Meylan)

• Designing a Conservation Program (K. L. Eckert)

• Priorities for Studies of Reproduction and Nest Biology (J. I. Richardson)

• Priorities for Research in Foraging Habitats (K. A. Bjorndal)

• Community-Based Conservation (J. G. Frazier)

2. Taxonomy and Species Identification

• Taxonomy, External Morphology, and Species Identification (P. C. H. Pritchard and J.A. Mortimer)

3. Population and Habitat Assessment

• Habitat Surveys (C. E. Diez and J. A. Ottenwalder)

• Population Surveys (Ground and Aerial) on Nesting Beaches (B. Schroeder and S. Murphy)

• Population Surveys on Mass Nesting Beaches (R. A. Valverde and C. E. Gates)

• Studies in Foraging Habitats: Capturing and Handling Turtles (L. M. Ehrhart and L. H. Ogren)

• Aerial Surveys in Foraging Habitats (T. A. Henwood and S. P. Epperly)

• Estimating Population Size (T. Gerrodette and B. L. Taylor)

• Population Identification (N. FitzSimmons, C. Moritz and B. W. Bowen)

4. Data Collection and Methods

• Defining the Beginning: the Importance of Research Design (J. D. Congdon and A. E. Dunham)

• Data Acquisition Systems for Monitoring Sea Turtle Behavior and Physiology (S. A. Eckert)

• Databases (R. Briseño-Dueñas and F. A. Abreu-Grobois)

• Factors to Consider in the Tagging of Sea Turtles (G. H. Balazs)

• Techniques for Measuring Sea Turtles (A. B. Bolten)

• Nesting Periodicity and Internesting Behavior (J. Alvarado and T. M. Murphy)

• Reproductive Cycles and Endocrinology (D. Wm. Owens)

• Determining Clutch Size and Hatching Success (J. D. Miller)

• Determining Hatchling Sex (H. Merchant Larios)

• Estimating Hatchling Sex Ratios (M. Godfrey and N. Mrosovsky)

• Diagnosing the Sex of Sea Turtles in Foraging Habitats (T. Wibbels)

• Diet Sampling and Diet Component Analysis (G. A. Forbes)

• Measuring Sea Turtle Growth (R. P. van Dam)

• Stranding and Salvage Networks (D. J. Shaver and W. G. Teas)

• Interviews and Market Surveys (C. Tambiah)

5. Reducing Threats

• Reducing Threats to Turtles (M. A. G. Marcovaldi and C. A.Thomé)

• Reducing Threats to Eggs and Hatchlings: In Situ Protection (R. H. Boulon, Jr.)

• Reducing Threats to Eggs and Hatchlings: Hatcheries (J. A. Mortimer)

• Reducing Threats to Nesting Habitat (B. E. Witherington)

• Reducing Threats to Foraging Habitats (J. Gibson and G. Smith)

• Reducing Incidental Catch in Fisheries (C. A. Oravetz)

6. Husbandry, Veterinary Care, and Necropsy

• Ranching and Captive Breeding Sea Turtles: Evaluation as a Conservation Strategy (J. P. Ross)

• Rehabilitation of Sea Turtles (M. Walsh)

• Infectious Diseases of Marine Turtles (L. H. Herbst)

• Tissue Sampling and Necropsy Techniques (E. R. Jacobson)

7. Legislation and Enforcement

• Grassroots Stakeholders and National Legislation (H. A. Reichart)

• Regional Collaboration (R. B. Trono and R. V. Salm)

• International Conservation Treaties (D. Hykle)

• Forensic Aspects (A. A. Colbert, C. M. Woodley, G. T. Seaborn, M. K. Moore and S. B. Galloway)