Effects of freezing on decomposition of sea turtle carcasses used for research studies Fishery Bulletin

Sea turtles are exposed to numerous anthropogenic threats at sea, and exposure to these threats can result in the stranding of dead animals ashore. In addition to environmental conditions, rate of carcass decomposition is an important but little studied factor in determining whether a sea turtle carcass will strand. Most carcasses of sea turtles collected for research are frozen upon retrieval, and the effects of freezing have not been studied. We compared the decomposition rate of unfrozen and previously frozen carcasses of green (Chelonia mydas) and Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles recovered from cold-stunning events. Species had the greatest influence on the rate of decomposition, with green sea turtles becoming positively buoyant and decomposing at a faster rate than Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. The effects of freezing were negligible, indicating that frozen carcasses may be a suitable replacement for fresh carcasses in research studies, including studies related to decomposition of sea turtles.