C O N T R I B U T E D P A P E R
Loggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at
smaller sizes than expected in the Gulf of Mexico:
Implications for turtle behavior, population dynamics,
and conservation
Allison M. Benscoter1
| Brian J. Smith2
| Kristen M. Hart1
1Wetland and Aquatic Research Center,
U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, USA
2Department of Wildland Resources and
Ecology Center, Utah State University,
Logan, Utah, USA
Correspondence
Allison M. Benscoter, Wetland and
Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological
Survey, 3321 College Avenue, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA.
Email: abenscoter@usgs.gov
Funding information
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural
Resource Damage Assessment; USGS
Ecosystems Mission Area; USGS Priority
Ecosystem Science Program
Abstract
Estimates of parameters that affect population dynamics, including the size at
which individuals reproduce, are crucial for efforts aimed at understanding
how imperiled species may recover from the numerous threats they face. In
this study, we observed loggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at
three sites in the Gulf of Mexico at sizes assumed nonreproductive in this
region (≤87 cm curved carapace length-notch [CCL-n]). These smaller individ-
uals ranged from 74.0 to 86.9 cm CCL-n, and the proportion of smaller nesting
loggerheads was 0.13 across three study sites: Gulf Shores, AL; Dry Tortugas
National Park, Florida (FL); and Everglades National Park (ENP), FL. The
greatest proportion of smaller nesters was observed at ENP at 0.24. Tracking
data indicated that the smaller nesters migrated shorter distances and swam in
shallower waters compared to the larger nesting loggerheads (>87 cm CCL-n)
in our dataset. These results provide valuable information on two of the
smallest subpopulations of NW Atlantic loggerheads and understudied ENP
turtles. Our results have potential applications in the classification and inter-
pretation of stranding limits and bycatch estimates, population modeling
(e.g., stage durations and fecund