Assessment of Sea-Turtle Status and Trends Integrating Demography and Abundance (2010) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 1-10
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Accurate assessments are necessary to evaluate the status and trends of populations and the effects of incidental takes and to assess the value of implemented protections of specific populations. Sea turtles migrate across whole ocean basins; therefore, population assessments require an international context.
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The fundamental theme underlying this report is that abundance assessment is essential but that abundance information alone is insufficient to understand the causes underlying trends in seaturtle populations or to predict future trends. In addition to reliable abundance estimates, it is necessary to understand key demographics.
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The committee recognizes the importance of taking an ecosystem approach to managing seaturtle populations, but its report focuses on population assessments of single species. Before agencies can undertake ecosystembased approaches to assessments of seaturtle populations, substantial information at the singlepopulation or singlespecies level is needed, as described in this report.
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A Conceptual Model of Sea-Turtle Life History A conceptual model linking population abundance with the key demographic processes in a single coherent framework is needed because species with a long lifespan are subject to influences beyond population changes (e.g., climate, magnitude of exploitation, type of fishing effort)
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Measuring Sea-Turtle Populations on Nesting Beaches and in the Water Population sampling on nesting beaches is a valuable source of information, but authors generally do not provide detailed justifications for their datacollection techniques. Techniques for measuring abun dance and other demographic parameters of sea turtles both on nesting beaches and in the water vary widely in the type of sampling, what is counted, how counts are made, and how the data are used for esti mates.
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Integrating abundance measures with demographic processes in a framework of modeling and data fitting provides a more robust basis for diagnosing trends, evaluating the effects of anthropogenic hazards, and defining recovery criteria. Chapters 5 and 6 review information about demog raphy, techniques for estimating demographic parameters, some of the quantitative tools used in assessment of populations, and tools that have been applied to seaturtle assessments; and they discuss the procedures routinely used in fishery assessments to ensure scientific rigor that could be adopted for future assessments of seaturtle populations.
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should develop a coherent national strategy for seaturtle assessments to improve the datacollection methods, data quality, and data availability and to develop a rigorous plan for external review of data and models used to assess population status and trends. The strategy would benefit from the focused attention of expert groups that include government officials, academics, and nongovernmental organization personnel.
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• NMFS and USFWS should present a comprehensive assessment plan and a data plan to seaturtle biologists to facilitate effective data collection for the integrated approach and to obtain input from them on improvement of the plans. • NMFS and USFWS, with other government agencies and funding sources, should support the collection and analysis of those data.
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Using reviewers with quantitative skills, such as skills in population assessment and statistical analysis, is particularly important. Conclusion: There are unnecessary obstacles to collection and analysis of critical data, including inadequate quantitative training of scientists and an inadequate process for issuing research permits.
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Participants should include representatives of the permitting agencies and research scientists. The review should weigh unintended consequences of permitting delays and lost research opportunities, should review the potential risks and benefits to the listed species of changing permitting requirements and procedures, and should assess the extent to which scru tiny of research permits has resulted in substantial take reductions.
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