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During mid-August 1996, researchers Barbara Schroeder
(Florida Marine Research Institute) and Dr. Llew Ehrhart (University of
Central Florida) attached satellite transmitters to the backs of four endangered
green turtles that nested in the Archie Carr National
Wildlife Refuge near Melbourne, Florida. The research was aimed at
helping determine the major foraging grounds and migratory routes used
by Florida's nesting population of green turtles.
Similar tracking experiments conducted in 1994, 1995 yielded
exciting new information about where green turtles go after nesting on
Florida's east coast. See Results of 1994 & 1995 Migration-Tracking of Florida Green Turtles for more details.
A history of the Florida green turtles outfitted with satellite transmitters during the summer of 1996, provided by Dean Bagley of the University of Central Florida - Marine Turtle Research Program under the direction
of Dr.Llew Ehrhart.
Click on the turtle's name to see a map of its movements.
The first nesting green turtle to receive a satellite
transmitter in 1996 was first observed by the UCF marine turtle group in
1990. She was encountered nesting at Melbourne Beach on July 23, 1990 and
she laid 164 eggs. The curved length of her shell is 117cm (46in) and her
weight is estimated at 164 (362lb). "Sam" was encountered again
as a re-migrant (a turtle nesting during a subsequent nesting season) in
1992. She laid 166 eggs on July 30, 1992 and, although we believe she nested
several times that summer, she was not observed again. She re-migrated
in 1994 and was encountered "false crawling" (an emergence that
does not result in a nest) on July 17, 1994. In 1996, six years after we
first encountered her, she once again travelled to South Brevard County
and was observed nesting on August 14. The satellite transmitter was attached
to her after she had completed nesting.
The second turtle selected for the 1996 migration study
was first encountered "false crawling" at Melbourne Beach on
21 July 1994. Carmen measures 115cm (45in) along the curved length of her
shell and her weight is estimated at 162kg (357lb). She re-migrated in
1996 and was observed nesting on 21 August, she laid 145 eggs and the satellite
transmitter was attached after she had completed nesting.
This turtle was first observed at Melbourne Beach during
the 1992 nesting season. She was seen by the research team five times that
summer and was observed nesting on four of those sightings. The number
of eggs in each of those four clutches was 121, 130, 113, and 143. Snapper
measures 112cm (44in) in curved shell length and is estimated to weigh
145kg (320lb). This turtle was not seen in 1994 (when she was expected
back) however, not all green turtles are observed at Melbourne Beach and
it is highly likely that she did re-migrate that year. She was encountered
again on 23 August 1996 at which time the satellite transmitter was attached,
following completion of nesting.
Amelia's known nesting history at Melbourne Beach is very
similar to Snapper's. She was first encountered in 1992 and was observed
nesting three times that summer. Amelia is the smallest of the four turtles
in the satellite telemetry project this year. The curved length of her
carapace is 105cm (41in) and she is estimated to weigh 129kg (285lb). She
was not observed nesting in 1994, but was seen again in 1996, first on
6 August and then again on 24 August, when the satellite transmitter was
attached.
The Sea Turtle Survival League, with the help of our corporate
sponsor Snapper, Inc., was a financial supporter of the 1996 satellite-tracking
research project. Additional funding for the Sea Turtle Migration-Tracking
Education Program was been provided by The Educational Foundation of America,
the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the Blue Planet Foundation. The Migration
Tracking Education Program was also promoted to school teachers around
the country by Turner Adventure Learning.
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