Tracking of Green (Chelonia Mydas) and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Sea Turtles Using Radio and Sonic Telemetry at South Padre Island, Texas, June - September 1991

摘要

Until recently, virtually no research had been conducted on sea turtle populations inhibiting the lower Laguna Madre in south Texas. Historically, this area was an important habitat for sea turtles, especially the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). In 1890 when the commercial sea turtle fishery in Texas was at its peak, the lower Laguna Madre accounted for 22,000 kg of sea turtles, 1/10 of the State's total sea turtle landings. By 1900 sea turtles in this region were scarce and the fishery collapsed. Over the years some research has been devoted to studying the nesting activity of sea turtles and the documentation of sea turtles stranded on south Texas beaches. These studies led to the establishment of the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network in 1980.