PARENT SESSION
Poster Session # 7: Restoration, Resource Management, and Conservation.

Monday, August 4 Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. SITCC Exhibit Hall B.

Impacts of beach nourishment on loggerhead and green turtles in Brevard County, Florida.

Roberts, Kelly¹, Ehrhart, Llewellyn^*,1, ¹ Department of Biology, Orlando, Florida

ABSTRACT- Marine turtle nesting habitat in Florida is compromised by beach erosion and coastal development. Beach erosion may be mitigated by beach nourishment projects which restore the beach profile and in most cases create additional marine turtle nesting habitat. The impact of beach nourishment on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting on a Florida beach was investigated as the result of the Brevard County Shore Protection Project, South Reach (Phase II). The approach to the investigation involved examination of three factors that are integral to the matter of marine turtle reproduction: 1) overall nest production, 2) nesting success (ratio of nest to non-nesting emergences), and 3) reproductive success (hatching and emerging success). Results of this study indicate a significant decrease in nest production and a significant increase in non-nesting emergences, thus a decrease in nesting success for both species in the nourished beach as compared to the control. Nests incubated in the nourished substrate produced equal (loggerhead) or significantly higher (green turtle) reproductive success rates than in the adjacent non-nourished area. This paper brings together the compilation, analysis and interpretation of the effects of the nourished substrate on marine turtles.

Key words: beach nourishment, Chelonia mydas, marine turtles, Caretta caretta