Population model analysis for the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, in Queensland

摘要: Worldwide declines of marine turtle populations have forced a need for sound conservation policies to prevent their extinction. Loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, are declining rapidly at eastern Australian nesting beaches, which visited by females from all feeding areas the stock. In some Australia, loggerheads been protected deleterious anthropogenic effects. Using long-term mark-recapture data one such group turtles on Heron Island Reef, Queensland, we created matrix model analyse loggerhead demography. We also produced Mon Repos, major rookery where annual population has declined rates approaching 8% per year. As indicated similar in USA, our models predicted that small survival adult and subadult can profound impact dynamics. A loss only few hundred each year could lead extinction less than century. Survival first life is relatively important these long-lived slow-maturing animals. At female apparently so low even beach protection efforts resulting 90% hatchling emergence success would not decline. Our research suggests continued mortality pressure dispersed northern Australia threat population. Measures protect should be supported, including use excluder devices (TEDs) prawn trawls.