General Information

sighting
Broward County Reefs
17
Southeast, Northeast
Broward
26.1 -80.1
Makowski, Chris; Salmon, Michael
Makowski, Chris - Phone Number: Not Provided, Email: Cmakowski@coastalplanning.net
Broward County Department of Planning and Environmental Protection, Coastal Planning and Engineering, Florida Atlantic University
county agency, consulting firm, university
Inactive
5/2003
10/2007

Equipment and Methods

dive

Sampling and Effort

Visual Capture
Sampling regime: annually annually
Measure of effort: unknown cap/area
sand, worm rock
neritic marine
0 16.5
6.3

Captures and Sightings Information

Species No. of
Captures		 No. of
Sightings		 Min Size*
(cm)		 Max Size*
(cm)		 Mean Size*
(cm)		 FP
Observed		 Life Stages** Comments
Green Turtle (Cm) n/a 451 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Loggerhead (Cc) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Kemp's Ridley (Lk) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hawksbill (Ei) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Leatherback (Dc) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
*All size measurements are SSCL unless otherwise indicated
** For Cm, Cc, Lk, & Ei: O - Oceanic-stage juvenile; N - Neritic-stage juvenile; S - Subadult; A - Adult. For Dc: I - Immature; A - Adult. n/a = not applicable; n/r = not reported.

This report adheres to the following size ranges for life stage classification for these species:

Green turtle Loggerhead Kemp's ridley Hawksbill
Oceanic-stage juvenile < 25 cm SCL < 30 cm SCL < 25 cm SCL < 25 cm SCL
Neritic-stage juvenile 25-69 cm SCL 30-69 cm SCL 25-39 cm SCL 25-64 cm SCL
Subadult 70-84 cm SCL 70-79 cm SCL 40-59 cm SCL 65-74 cm SCL
Adult ≥ 85 cm SCL ≥ 80 cm SCL ≥ 60 cm SCL ≥ 75 cm SCL
Leatherback
Immature < 135 cm OCL
Adult ≥ 135 cm OCL

Other Information Collected

Project Summary

Beach restoration projects have the potential to compromise nearshore reef habitats and have detrimental effects on the associated ecosystems. Coastal Planning and Engineering and FAU conducted “turtle tows” to monitor green turtle populations along nearshore reef tracts in Broward County. The “turtle tow” method is a variation of the “shark fishing” technique of towing a diver behind a boat so the diver can determine abundance and distribution without disturbing or handling the animals being surveyed. Surveys were performed twice during each sampling session: once north to south and once south to north. A GIS database was also established with the location of each observed turtle. Surveys in 2003 and 2004 have provided two consecutive juvenile green turtle population estimates in this area. Long-term monitoring is planned to assess temporary fluctuations and long-term variation in the population. In 2003, the two directional surveys yielded the same number of green turtles in the area: 48. In 2004, the two directional surveys yielded similar numbers, north to south (35), and south to north (42). Observations of turtle behaviors were also recorded.

Documents

File Name Type Description
Makowski_et_al_2005_Herp_Rev.pdf * Journal Article
Makowski_et_al_2006_Mar_Biol.pdf * Journal Article
* This document is available from FWC by request. Email SeaTurtleData@MyFWC.com if you would like a copy. Please include both the project name and file name in your email.
** This document has been provided to FWC but is unavailable for download. Please contact the project PI if you would like a copy.

Literature/Reports Produced

Salmon, M.C., C. Makowski, C. Christopher, and C. whalen. 2004. Broward County sea turtle survey: 2004 pre-construction monitoring of green turtle populations on the nearshore reefs of Broward County, Florida. Interim report to Broward County, 8 pp.

Makowski, C., L. Fisher, C. Kruempel, and M. Salmon. 2005. "Turtle tows" monitoring protocol for assessing in-water effects of beach construction on sea turtle populations along nearshore reef habitats. Report to Broward County, 12pp.

Makowski, C. R. Slattery, and M. Salmon. 2005. 'Shark fishing': a method for determining the abundance and distribution of sea turtles at shallow reef habitats. Herpetological Review 36(1):36-38.

Makowski, C. and C.J. Kruempel. 2006. 2006 survey of juvenile Green Turtles <abbreviated title>. Boca Raton, Florida: Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc., (Prepared for Broward County Environmental Protection Department, Plantation, Florida).

Makowski, C., J.A. Seminoff, and M. Salmon. 2006. Home range and habitat use of juvenile Atlantic green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) on shallow reef habitats in Palm Beach, Florida, USA. Marine Biology 148(5):1167-1179.

Makowski, C. and C.J. Kruempel. 2007. 2007 survey of juvenile Green Turtles <abbreviated title>. Boca Raton, Florida: Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc., (Prepared for Broward County Environmental Protection Department, Plantation, Florida). 9 pp.

Makowski,C and L. Fisher. 2008. The effect of beach nourishment on juvenile green turtle distribution along the nearshore of Broward County, Florida. The Open Marine Biology Journal 2008(2):21-28.