1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
I N T R O D U C T I O N
M E T H O D S
R E S U L T S
D A T A R E S O U R C E S R E F E R E N C E S
Introduc/on to GIS, Spring 2016, Lesley University
Marissa Murphy
Using Foresight in Florida: A SpaAal RelaAonship Between Unhealthful
CondiAons & Lepidochelys kempii (CriAcally Endangered) Nests
1. Determine feasible variables for cause of death: Debris Ingestion & Entanglement, Biotoxins
(HAB events), & Commercial Fishing Bycatch
2. Gather, organize and specify datasets: Select for data within the coastal regions of Florida,
Select for Boating/Commercial Fishing-related human activities, & Select for Lepidochelys
kempii nest locations
3. Determine buffers that will be criteria for the Site Suitability Analysis: Multiple-ring buffer for
Debris Convergence Zones & Boating/Commercial Fishing sites based upon Drift-bottle
experiments (Hart, Mooreside, & Crowder, 2006) & commonly known long-line lengths
4. Intersect buffer layers & Clip to HAB event frequency polygon
5. Compare Nest sites to locations with unhealthful combinations of phenomena
According to three major conservation documents, Kemp’s
Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles are considered to be
Endangered (Endangered Species Act), Critically endangered
(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources, IUCN, Red Book), and Appendix I (Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES) (Gualtieri,
Corti & Gherardi, 2009, p.118). There are several factors that
contribute to population health in sea turtles including: debris
ingestion and entanglement, commercial fishing long-line and
trawling entanglement, land modification, artificial lighting as
well as marine biotoxins known to this study as Harmful Algal
Blooms (HAB-events) of Karenia brevis most commonly, along
with a range of other natural contributing factors (STC, 2015;
FFWCC, 2016). Unfortunately all of these phenomena can take
place in critical habitats such as nesting sites. When it comes to
Critically endangered species, it is crucial to remember that
reproduction, though time-sensitive, increases population
numbers. This study attempts to present the spatial relationship
between various known causes of death in L. kempii
populations in relation to locations of annual L. kempii nesting
sites.
Location of Study: Coastal Florida, USA
Population: Kemp’s Ridley
(Lepidochelys kempii) Sea Turtles
In relation to other species
Source:http://www.environmentalprotectionofasia.com/ztcp/biology/images/figure15.jpg
Individual
Source:http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/reptiles/
turtles/kemps-ridley-sea-turtle/data1/images/
kempsridley_nps2.jpg
Arribada, mass nesting behavior
Source:https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3235/2844492324_3de59bacc8_b.jpg
Criteria 2: Debris
Convergence
Zone Buffers: 1km, 5km,
10km, 20km
Criteria overlay
(without buffers)
Criteria 3: Boating/
Commercial Fishing
Buffers: 10km, 50km,
100km
Criteria 1: HAB-Event
Frequency by County
Analyzing the intersecting regions:
locations of unhealthful conditions in
relation to L. kempii nesting sites
Performing an Intersect: Discovering
locations of unhealthful conditions
for L. kempii
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. (2016). Effects of florida's red tide on marine animals. Retrieved from:
http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/general/marine-animals/
Gherardi, F., Corti, C., & Gualtieri, M. (2009). Biodiversity conservation and habitat management (Vol. 2). Retrieved
from: https://books.google.com/books?id=uR9lCwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Biodiversity Conservation and
Habitat Management -
VolumeIIcitation&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwityZXF1tXMAhXlJMAKHT2mBhsQ6AEIHTAA#v=onepage&q=Biodiversity
Conservation and Habitat Management - Volume II citation&f=false
Hart, K., Mooreside, P., & Crowder, L. (2006). Interpreting the spatio-temporal patterns of sea turtle strandings: Going
with the flow. Biological Conservation, 129(2), p.286. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.10.047
Sea Turtle Conservancy. (2015). Information About Sea Turtles: Threats to Sea Turtles. Retrieved from http://
www.conserveturtles.org/seaturtleinformation.php?page=threats