Line of action:

Knowledge generation and management

Status:

En ejecución

Spatial scale of work:

Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Region of Murcia (Mediterranean coast)

Line of research:

Marine biodiversity and marine protected areas

Execution date:

2023

Duration:

01/05/2023 - 31/04/2025

Total budget:

€299,997.35

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€284,997.48 (95%)

Coordinating entity:

Balmes University Foundation

The western Mediterranean is experiencing an increase in the nesting of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) which corresponds to a process of colonisation of the species in response to climate change. This phenomenon is considered of great importance for their survival due to predictions of feminization and reduced viability of offspring on the laying beaches of origin, while the new laying beaches present more favorable conditions in a scenario of global warming. However, this colonization occurs in an area with a high human occupation, such as the Spanish coast, so proper management is necessary to favor the success of these eggs in coexistence with human presence. Unfortunately, the management of this colonization phenomenon is compromised by a paucity of scientific information on the growing population, the suitability of the laying beaches and the effectiveness of the management measures that are being implemented. In this context, InGeNi-Caretta is a multidisciplinary project with a research team made up of leading experts in sea turtles in order to generate the necessary scientific knowledge to facilitate decision-making in the planning and management of this endangered species.

Some actions included in the project are:

• Study on the suitability of the beaches of the Spanish coast for nesting according to their physicochemical characteristics.
• Study of environmental parameters on nesting beaches.
• Analysis of reproductive parameters (number of eggs, embryonic development rate and viability).
• Genomic analysis of females and offspring.
• Evaluation of the impact of the genotype of the offspring on their dispersal, viability and growth.
• Study of the behavior of females and calves by telemetry.
• Inference of the feeding areas of the females before laying through the study of isotopes of the offspring.
• Study of hatching success in ex situ incubation.
• Evaluation of growth and viability parameters of captive offspring (Head-starting)
• Application of the results for proposals for improvement and expansion of marine protected areas during the dispersal and nesting of the white-faced turtle.