Effect of North Atlantic climate variability on hawksbill turtles in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

摘要: article i nfo The recent decline of nesting hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the southern Gulf Mexico (SGM) has been partly attributed to climate change, but evidences support this idea are still developing. In sea turtles, recruitment success and remigration interval (the between two successive sea- sons) related interannual variations oceanographic conditions at turtles' developmental habitats. However, effect low-frequency environmental variability not well documented. relative changes numbers SGM North Atlantic, during 1980-2010 period, were analysed using time series techniques determine: 1) whether there periodic signals series, 2) any such parallel similar frequency local, regional basin-wide spatial scales. A 7-year cycle annual number was found, which is superimposed upon a neg- ative long-term trend. Both inversely correlated with cycles periodicity Atlantic surface temperature (SST). These results suggest that population dy- namics basin-wide, quasi-decadal fluc- tuation Atlantic. This relationship may be influenced by trophic interactions coupled decadal alternation favourable unfavourable ecological occurring on Conservation planning for thi ss pecies should focus potential both linear increases SST, as expected from current global warming trend, natural en- vironmental variability.