Ecological regime shift drives declining growth rates of sea turtles throughout the West Atlantic.

Somatic growth is an integrated, individual-based response to environmental conditions, especially in ectotherms. Growth dynamics of large, mobile animals are particularly useful as bio-indicators of environmental change at regional scales. We assembled growth rate data from throughout the West Atlantic for green turtles, Chelonia mydas, which are long-lived, highly migratory, primarily herbivorous mega-consumers that may migrate over hundreds to thousands of kilometers. Our dataset, the largest ever compiled for sea turtles, has 9690 growth increments from 30 sites from Bermuda to Uruguay from 1973 to 2015. Using generalized additive mixed models, we evaluated covariates that could affect growth rates; body size, diet, and year have significant effects on growth. Growth increases in early years until 1999, then declines by 26% to 2015. The temporal (year) effect is of particular interest because two carnivorous species of sea turtles-hawksbills, Eretmochelys imbricata, and loggerheads, Caretta caretta-exhibited similar significant declines in growth rates starting in 1997 in the West Atlantic, based on previous studies. These synchronous declines in productivity among three sea turtle species across a trophic spectrum provide strong evidence that an ecological regime shift (ERS) in the Atlantic is driving growth dynamics. The ERS resulted from a synergy of the 1997/1998 El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-the strongest on record-combined with an unprecedented warming rate over the last two to three decades. Further support is provided by the strong correlations between annualized mean growth rates of green turtles and both sea surface temperatures (SST) in the West Atlantic for years of declining growth rates (r = -.94) and the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) for all years (r = .74). Granger-causality analysis also supports the latter finding. We discuss multiple stressors that could reinforce and prolong the effect of the ERS. This study demonstrates the importance of region-wide collaborations.

The interplay of homing and dispersal in green turtles: a focus on the southwestern atlantic.

Current understanding of spatial ecology is insufficient in many threatened marine species, failing to provide a solid basis for conservation and management. To address this issue for globally endangered green turtles, we investigated their population distribution by sequencing a mitochondrial control region segment from the Rocas Atoll courtship area (n = 30 males) and four feeding grounds (FGs) in Brazil (n = 397), and compared our findings to published data (n (nesting) = 1205; n (feeding) = 1587). At Rocas Atoll, the first Atlantic courtship area sequenced to date, we found males were differentiated from local juveniles but not from nesting females. In combination with tag data, this indicates possible male philopatry. The most common haplotypes detected at the study sites were CMA-08 and CMA-05, and significant temporal variation was not revealed. Although feeding grounds were differentiated overall, intra-regional structure was less pronounced. Ascension was the primary natal source of the study FGs, with Surinam and Trindade as secondary sources. The study clarified the primary connectivity between Trindade and Brazil. Possible linkages to African populations were considered, but there was insufficient resolution to conclusively determine this connection. The distribution of FG haplotype lineages was nonrandom and indicative of regional clustering. The study investigated impacts of population size, geographic distance, ocean currents, and juvenile natal homing on connectivity, addressed calls for increased genetic sampling in the southwestern Atlantic, and provided data important for conservation of globally endangered green turtles.

Whistle variability in South Atlantic spinner dolphins from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago off Brazil.

A series of quali- and quantitative analyses were conducted to evaluate the variability of spinner dolphin whistles from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago off Brazil. Nine variables were extracted from each whistle contour, and the whistle contours shapes were classified into the seven categories described in Driscoll (1995). The analysis showed mean beginning and ending frequencies values of 10.78 and 12.74 kHz, respectively. On average, whistle duration was relatively short, with mean values around 0.495 s (N=702). Comparative analyses were also conducted to investigate the relationship between the obtained results and those presented in previous studies. When comparing averages, the results of the study of Oswald et al.(2003) in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) presented less significant differences in relation to this study; only whistle duration differed significantly between both works. The results of multivariate classification tests also pointed TEP population as the closest related to the population studied here. The similarities between such disjunct populations might be attributed to a more recent isolation event (the closing of the Panama Isthmus) than the divergence that has driven North and South Atlantic populations apart.

Report on the collision between a spinner dolphin and a boat in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Western Equatorial Atlantic, Brazil / Relato de colisão entre um golfinho-rotador e uma embarcação no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Atlântico central equatorial, Brasil

This paper reports a case of collision between an individual spinner dolphin and a boat in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, as an example of disturbance potentially caused by tourism industry activities. Photos illustrating the inflicted injuries on the animal are presented, and preventive measures to avoid this kind of accidents are proposed. This is the first report on a collision between spinner dolphins and boats.

Neste artigo, um caso de colisão entre um golfinho-rotador e uma embarcação é registrado no arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, como um exemplo de perturbação causada potencialmente por atividades turísticas. São apresentadas fotografias ilustrando os ferimentos causados no animal e o uso de medidas de prevenção para evitar este tipo de acidentes é proposto. Este é o primeiro registro de colisão entre golfinhos-rotadores e embarcações.

Valores hematológicos de tartarugas marinhas Chelonia mydas (Linaeus, 1758) juvenis selvagens do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brasil / Hematological values of juvenile wild sea turtles Chelonia mydas (Linaeus, 1758) from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Pernambuco State, Brazil

Foram determinados os valores hematológicos de referência para 60 tartarugas marinhas Chelonia mydas juvenis selvagens aparentemente saudáveis do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco,Brasil nos meses de julho a setembro de 2003. Os resultados obtidos foram: Hematócrito 21,4 a 36,6 %; Hemácias 0,244 a 0,554 x106/μl; Hemoglobina 5,9 a 14,0 g/dl; Volume Corpuscular Médio 500,4 a986,1 fl; Hemoglobina Corpuscular Média 144,0 a 367,1 pg; Concentração de Hemoglobina Corpuscular Média 23,7 a 45,1 g/dl;Leucócitos 1178,8 a 8259,6 /μl; Monócitos 15,4 a 1494,3 /μl; Linfócitos221,1 a 1924,8 /μl; Heterófilos 621,5 a 4317,8 /μl; Eosinófilos 96,1 a1831,0 /μl; Basófilos 0,0 a 45,3 /μl e Trombócitos 9513,2 a36316,5 /μl. A comparação dos resultados obtidos com os dados da literatura reforça a necessidade do estabelecimento de valores hematológicos específicos para aglomerações em diferentes condições geográficas, climáticas, faixas de tamanho e diferentes metodologias. Devido a estas influências estes valores não devem ser extrapolados para outras aglomerações e devem ser usados com critério para avaliação clínica de indivíduos sob outras condições.

The hematological reference ranges of sixty wild, apparently health, juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Pernambuco State, Brazil, were determined between the months of July and September of 2003. The obtained results were: Packed cell volume 21,4-36,6 %; erythrocytes count 0,244-0,554 x106/μl; Hemoglobin 5,9-14,0 g/dl; Mean Corpuscular Volume500,4-986,1 fl; Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin 144,0-367,1 pg; Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration 23,7-45,1 g/dl; Totalleucocytes count 1178,8-8259,6 /μl; Monocytes 15,4-1494,3 /μl;Lymphocytes 221,1-1924,8 /μl; Heterophils 621,5-4317,8 /μl;Eosinophils 96,1-1831,0 /μl; Basophils 0,0-45,3 /μl; Trombocytes 9513,2-36316,5 /μl. The comparison between the obtained results and literature data reinforce the need to establish hematological counts for specific agglomerations on different geographic and climate conditions, size classes, age, and methodologies. Because of these influences, the values should not be extrapolated to other C. mydas agglomerations and should be used carefully for the clinical evaluation of individuals under other conditions.