Gabon 2012: Pongara, Leatherback Turtles

Original provider:
University of Exeter

Dataset credits:
Data provider
Marine Turtle Research Group
Originating data center
<a href='http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/' target='_blank'>Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool (STAT)</a>
Project partner
This project is a collaborative effort between the Gabon National Parks Agency, the Gabon Sea Turtle Partnership, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Marine Turtle Research Group at the University of Exeter.
Project sponsor or sponsor description
The project is generously funded by VAALCO Inc. and Harvest NR.

Abstract:
The Gabon Sea Turtle Partnership has estimated that between 36,000 and 126,000 leatherback nests are laid on Gabon’s beaches every year, about 50% of which occur in Mayumba National Park, and about 23% in Pongara National Park (Witt et al. 2009). This degree of reproductive effort suggests that Gabon hosts the largest nesting population of leatherback turtles in the world, and approximately 60% of all nesting females in the entire Atlantic Ocean.<br><br>The objectives of this satellite tracking project are:<br><br>(a) Determine the number of nests laid per season per female and the duration between each nesting event.<br>(b) Assess the distance between successive nests during the season.<br>(c) Develop distribution maps of nesting and inter-nesting habitat use through high-resolution location data and diving behaviour data.<br>(d) Study the acoustic environment to which turtles are exposed at sea, through sound recording on the turtle.<br>(e) Evaluate the effectiveness of current protection measures and propose management regimes tailored toward addressing the overlap between sea turtle distribution and behaviours and anthropogenic activities.<br>

原始提供方：
埃克塞特大学（University of Exeter）

数据集说明：
数据提供方：
海龟研究小组（Marine Turtle Research Group）
原始数据中心：
卫星跟踪与分析工具（Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool, STAT），其官方网站为 http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/
项目合作方：
本项目由加蓬国家公园管理局、加蓬海龟伙伴组织、野生动物保护协会以及埃克塞特大学（University of Exeter）的海龟研究小组联合实施。
项目资助方：
本项目由VAALCO公司（VAALCO Inc.）与Harvest NR慷慨资助。

摘要：
加蓬海龟伙伴组织估计，每年在加蓬海滩上会产下36000至126000个棱皮龟（leatherback turtle）巢穴，其中约50%位于马永巴国家公园，约23%位于庞加拉国家公园（Witt等，2009）。该繁殖规模表明，加蓬拥有全球规模最大的棱皮龟筑巢种群，同时承载着整个大西洋海域约60%的筑巢雌性棱皮龟。

本卫星跟踪项目的目标如下：
(a) 明确每只雌性海龟每个繁殖季的产卵巢穴数量，以及两次筑巢事件之间的间隔时长；
(b) 评估繁殖季内连续筑巢之间的距离；
(c) 通过高分辨率位置数据与潜水行为数据，绘制筑巢与筑巢间隔期栖息地利用的分布图；
(d) 通过搭载于海龟身上的录音设备，研究海龟在远洋所处的声学环境；
(e) 评估当前保护措施的有效性，并提出定制化的管理方案，以解决海龟分布、行为与人类活动之间的重叠冲突。