• News
  • Work Here
  • Volunteer Here
  • User Sign In
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our President's Message
    • Our Board
    • Strategic Solutions - Vision 2025
    • Staff
    • Work Here
      • Openings
      • Internships
        • Internships for Non-U.S. Citizens
    • Financials
    • Communications
      • In the News
      • Publications
        • Research Documents
        • Publication Archives
      • Media Tools
  • Our Work
    • Science
      • Water Monitoring
        • Naples Bay
        • Lakewatch
      • Mangrove Restoration
        • Clam Bay
        • Fruit Farm Creek
        • Pine Island Sound
        • Development Effects
        • Hurricane Effects
      • Urban Ecology
        • Golf Course Ecology
        • Filter Marsh
        • Smith Preserve Management
      • Western Everglades
        • Refugia Project
        • Picayune Strand Restoration
        • Southern Golden Gate Estates
      • Invasive Species
        • Burmese pythons
          • Burrow Borrowers
        • Cane toads
      • Wildlife Research
        • Loggerheads
        • Kemp's ridleys
        • Everglades Mink
        • Anuran
        • Remote Camera Survey
        • American Alligator
      • Science Blog
    • Policy
      • Take Action
      • Eye on the Issues
      • Eastern Collier County
      • Wetland Protection
      • Water Quality
        • Now or Neverglades
        • Lake O Ripple Effect
          • Stop the Ripple Effect
          • EAA Reservoir
        • Standards & Impaired Waters
        • Fertilizer Ordinance
        • Stormwater Regulation
        • Naples Bay & Gordon River
        • TMDLs and BMAPs
      • Land Conservation
        • Florida Forever
        • Conservation Collier
        • Edison Farms
        • Rural Lands Stewardship Area
      • Wildlife Protection
        • Florida Panther
          • Compensation program
        • Black Bears
        • Manatees
        • Lime Rock / Sand Mining
        • Eastern Collier Habitat
      • Smart Growth
      • Policy Blog
    • Wildlife Hospital
      • Wildlife Hospital FAQ
      • Pelican Protection
      • Animal Acceptance Policy
      • What We Do
      • Wish List
      • Volunteer at Wildlife Hospital
      • Wildlife Blog
    • Education
      • Virtual Learning
      • Summer Camp
      • Field Trips
        • Pricing & Info
        • Registration
      • School Outreach
        • Pricing & Info
        • Registration
      • Teacher Workshops
      • Teacher Resources
      • Education Blog
    • IMPACT
      • Edison Farms
      • Peace River Refuge
      • Mangrove Restoration
      • Western Everglades
      • Clean Water
      • Wildlife Protection
      • Rookery Bay
      • Gordon River Greenway
  • Nature Center
    • Plan Your Visit
      • Coupons
      • Daily Programs
      • Electric Boat Tours
      • Dalton Discovery Center
      • Wildlife Hospital Exhibits
      • Ferguson Learning Lab
      • Shotwell Wavering Filter Marsh
      • Smith Preserve
      • FAQs
    • Special Programs
      • Evenings at the Conservancy
      • Little Explorers
      • Group Tours
      • Family Fun Days
    • Kayaks
    • Offsite Programs
      • Rookery Bay Eco-Cruise
      • Nature Walks
      • Request Speaker
  • Climate Solutions
    • Growing Climate Solutions
  • Events
    • Annual Meeting
    • Earth Day
    • Magic Under the Mangroves
      • Magic Committee
      • Patron Party
      • History of Magic
    • RedSnook
      • RedSnook - Rules
      • RedSnook Guide List
      • RedSnook History
      • Launch Sites
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
      • Join
      • Renew
      • Leadership Circle
    • Donate
      • Monthly Giving
      • Planned Giving
        • Gift Options
        • Planned Giving Committee
        • The Eagle Society
      • Amazon Wish List
      • Send an eCard
      • Donor Privacy
      • Matching Gifts
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Application
      • Volunteer of the Month
    • Corporate Sponsors
  • Donate
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our President's Message
    • Our Board
    • Strategic Solutions - Vision 2025
    • Staff
    • Work Here
      • Openings
      • Internships
        • Internships for Non-U.S. Citizens
    • Financials
    • Communications
      • In the News
      • Publications
        • Research Documents
        • Publication Archives
      • Media Tools
  • Our Work
    • Science
      • Water Monitoring
        • Naples Bay
        • Lakewatch
      • Mangrove Restoration
        • Clam Bay
        • Fruit Farm Creek
        • Pine Island Sound
        • Development Effects
        • Hurricane Effects
      • Urban Ecology
        • Golf Course Ecology
        • Filter Marsh
        • Smith Preserve Management
      • Western Everglades
        • Refugia Project
        • Picayune Strand Restoration
        • Southern Golden Gate Estates
      • Invasive Species
        • Burmese pythons
          • Burrow Borrowers
        • Cane toads
      • Wildlife Research
        • Loggerheads
        • Kemp's ridleys
        • Everglades Mink
        • Anuran
        • Remote Camera Survey
        • American Alligator
      • Science Blog
    • Policy
      • Take Action
      • Eye on the Issues
      • Eastern Collier County
      • Wetland Protection
      • Water Quality
        • Now or Neverglades
        • Lake O Ripple Effect
          • Stop the Ripple Effect
          • EAA Reservoir
        • Standards & Impaired Waters
        • Fertilizer Ordinance
        • Stormwater Regulation
        • Naples Bay & Gordon River
        • TMDLs and BMAPs
      • Land Conservation
        • Florida Forever
        • Conservation Collier
        • Edison Farms
        • Rural Lands Stewardship Area
      • Wildlife Protection
        • Florida Panther
          • Compensation program
        • Black Bears
        • Manatees
        • Lime Rock / Sand Mining
        • Eastern Collier Habitat
      • Smart Growth
      • Policy Blog
    • Wildlife Hospital
      • Wildlife Hospital FAQ
      • Pelican Protection
      • Animal Acceptance Policy
      • What We Do
      • Wish List
      • Volunteer at Wildlife Hospital
      • Wildlife Blog
    • Education
      • Virtual Learning
      • Summer Camp
      • Field Trips
        • Pricing & Info
        • Registration
      • School Outreach
        • Pricing & Info
        • Registration
      • Teacher Workshops
      • Teacher Resources
      • Education Blog
    • IMPACT
      • Edison Farms
      • Peace River Refuge
      • Mangrove Restoration
      • Western Everglades
      • Clean Water
      • Wildlife Protection
      • Rookery Bay
      • Gordon River Greenway
  • Nature Center
    • Plan Your Visit
      • Coupons
      • Daily Programs
      • Electric Boat Tours
      • Dalton Discovery Center
      • Wildlife Hospital Exhibits
      • Ferguson Learning Lab
      • Shotwell Wavering Filter Marsh
      • Smith Preserve
      • FAQs
    • Special Programs
      • Evenings at the Conservancy
      • Little Explorers
      • Group Tours
      • Family Fun Days
    • Kayaks
    • Offsite Programs
      • Rookery Bay Eco-Cruise
      • Nature Walks
      • Request Speaker
  • Climate Solutions
    • Growing Climate Solutions
  • Events
    • Annual Meeting
    • Earth Day
    • Magic Under the Mangroves
      • Magic Committee
      • Patron Party
      • History of Magic
    • RedSnook
      • RedSnook - Rules
      • RedSnook Guide List
      • RedSnook History
      • Launch Sites
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
      • Join
      • Renew
      • Leadership Circle
    • Donate
      • Monthly Giving
      • Planned Giving
        • Gift Options
        • Planned Giving Committee
        • The Eagle Society
      • Amazon Wish List
      • Send an eCard
      • Donor Privacy
      • Matching Gifts
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Application
      • Volunteer of the Month
    • Corporate Sponsors
  • Donate

KEMP'S RIDLEY SEA TURTLES

Scientists at the Conservancy have been collaborating with Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (RBNERR) on in-water studies to characterize sea turtle aggregations inhabiting the Ten Thousand Islands estuarine complex. A specially designed research vessel is used to rapidly deploy a large mesh tangle net to encircle and capture sea turtles.


Kemp's Ridley

The Kemp's ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is considered the most endangered sea turtle species in the world and also happens to be the most common sea turtle residing in the nearshore waters of Southwest Florida.

Our estuaries provide the resources that young Kemp's ridleys need to grow to adulthood and females will one day emerge on the primary nesting beaches along the gulf coast of Mexico. Conservation efforts have brought the Kemp's ridley back from the brink of extinction but understanding how turtles live in estuaries and protecting these vital feeding areas will ensure the viability of this endangered species.

  • Track the turtles' movements

Kemp's ridleys are placed temporarily in holding tanks at RBNERR's field station for diet studies. Previous research found Kemp's ridleys are primarily feeding on solitary tunicates (i.e., sea squirts) in the Ten Thousand Islands. Cursory examination of recent samples suggests turtles in this region have shifted their diet to other types of bottom-dwelling organisms such as sponges and colonial tunicates.

Blood and tissue samples are collected from Kemp’s ridleys for stable isotope analysis. The concept behind dietary stable isotope analysis is "you are what you eat", whereby the chemical composition of a turtle's body is related to its diet. The isotope composition of Kemp's ridleys is being compared to those of their prey and various habitat components (mangroves, drift algae, and sessile invertebrates) to characterize a food web in the Ten Thousand Islands estuary. This provides a comprehensive investigation into the trophic ecology of Kemp's ridleys in their estuarine feeding grounds.

Kemp’s ridley blood samples are also being used to predict the sex of these immature turtles. Adult turtles are sexed by the length of the tail, whereby the male turtle has a much longer tail than the female. Other methods are used for sexing immature turtles such as the concentration of the hormone testosterone in the blood.

Kemp's ridleys have also been instrumented with satellite transmitters to provide a better understanding of how this species uses the Ten Thousand Islands estuary and surrounding waters. Turtles typically resided among the island passes and backwater bays of the archipelago. Water temperatures decreased late in the winter and Kemp's ridley exhibited brief seasonal migrations by moving up to 15.5 miles (25 km) offshore or up to 25 miles (40 km) southward but soon returned to their capture site as waters warmed.

The movements of Kemp's ridleys in the Ten Thousand Islands can be followed by visiting www.seaturtle.org.

These studies are supported in part by grants awarded to the Conservancy from the Sea Turtle Grants Program. The Sea Turtle Grants Program is funded from proceeds from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate. Learn more at www.helpingseaturtles.org. Satellite transmitters were funded by private donations to the Conservancy. Research activities are conducted under NMFS permit #13544 and FFWCC permit #136.


Read more:

Tucker, T. and J. Schmid. 2012. Ridley riddles unravel in Florida. Florida Environmental Outreach, Volume 3, Number 4

Tucker, T. and J. Schmid. 2013. Charlotte Harbor in-water studies answer new ridley riddles. Florida Environmental Outreach, Volume 4, Number 3

  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our President's Message
    • Our Board
    • Strategic Solutions - Vision 2025
    • Staff
    • Work Here
      • Openings
      • Internships
        • Internships for Non-U.S. Citizens
    • Financials
    • Communications
      • In the News
      • Publications
        • Research Documents
        • Publication Archives
      • Media Tools
  • Our Work
    • Science
      • Water Monitoring
        • Naples Bay
        • Lakewatch
      • Mangrove Restoration
        • Clam Bay
        • Fruit Farm Creek
        • Pine Island Sound
        • Development Effects
        • Hurricane Effects
      • Urban Ecology
        • Golf Course Ecology
        • Filter Marsh
        • Smith Preserve Management
      • Western Everglades
        • Refugia Project
        • Picayune Strand Restoration
        • Southern Golden Gate Estates
      • Invasive Species
        • Burmese pythons
          • Burrow Borrowers
        • Cane toads
      • Wildlife Research
        • Loggerheads
        • Kemp's ridleys
        • Everglades Mink
        • Anuran
        • Remote Camera Survey
        • American Alligator
      • Science Blog
    • Policy
      • Take Action
      • Eye on the Issues
      • Eastern Collier County
      • Wetland Protection
      • Water Quality
        • Now or Neverglades
        • Lake O Ripple Effect
          • Stop the Ripple Effect
          • EAA Reservoir
        • Standards & Impaired Waters
        • Fertilizer Ordinance
        • Stormwater Regulation
        • Naples Bay & Gordon River
        • TMDLs and BMAPs
      • Land Conservation
        • Florida Forever
        • Conservation Collier
        • Edison Farms
        • Rural Lands Stewardship Area
      • Wildlife Protection
        • Florida Panther
          • Compensation program
        • Black Bears
        • Manatees
        • Lime Rock / Sand Mining
        • Eastern Collier Habitat
      • Smart Growth
      • Policy Blog
    • Wildlife Hospital
      • Wildlife Hospital FAQ
      • Pelican Protection
      • Animal Acceptance Policy
      • What We Do
      • Wish List
      • Volunteer at Wildlife Hospital
      • Wildlife Blog
    • Education
      • Virtual Learning
      • Summer Camp
      • Field Trips
        • Pricing & Info
        • Registration
      • School Outreach
        • Pricing & Info
        • Registration
      • Teacher Workshops
      • Teacher Resources
      • Education Blog
    • IMPACT
      • Edison Farms
      • Peace River Refuge
      • Mangrove Restoration
      • Western Everglades
      • Clean Water
      • Wildlife Protection
      • Rookery Bay
      • Gordon River Greenway
  • Nature Center
    • Plan Your Visit
      • Coupons
      • Daily Programs
      • Electric Boat Tours
      • Dalton Discovery Center
      • Wildlife Hospital Exhibits
      • Ferguson Learning Lab
      • Shotwell Wavering Filter Marsh
      • Smith Preserve
      • FAQs
    • Special Programs
      • Evenings at the Conservancy
      • Little Explorers
      • Group Tours
      • Family Fun Days
    • Kayaks
    • Offsite Programs
      • Rookery Bay Eco-Cruise
      • Nature Walks
      • Request Speaker
  • Climate Solutions
    • Growing Climate Solutions
  • Events
    • Annual Meeting
    • Earth Day
    • Magic Under the Mangroves
      • Magic Committee
      • Patron Party
      • History of Magic
    • RedSnook
      • RedSnook - Rules
      • RedSnook Guide List
      • RedSnook History
      • Launch Sites
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
      • Join
      • Renew
      • Leadership Circle
    • Donate
      • Monthly Giving
      • Planned Giving
        • Gift Options
        • Planned Giving Committee
        • The Eagle Society
      • Amazon Wish List
      • Send an eCard
      • Donor Privacy
      • Matching Gifts
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Application
      • Volunteer of the Month
    • Corporate Sponsors
  • Donate

Learn more from our Science Department

Loggerheads

The Conservancy Science Department has been monitoring loggerhead sea turtle nesting activity on Keewaydin Island since 1982.

Learn more

 

Mangroves

Mangrove systems are often called “nature’s nurseries” because they provide habitat and shelter for a variety of animals. They also serve as an indicator of the health of our coastal waterways.

Learn more

 

Burmese Pythons

Conservancy of Southwest Florida biologists and partner groups are working to study this invasive species to help identify population management strategies.

Learn more

 

More Science programs:

  • Kemp's ridley sea turtles
  • Burmese Pythons
  • Golf Course Restoration
  • Mangrove Restoration
  • Smith Preserve

 

Please show Your Support!

  • Join
  • Donate
  • Volunteer

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Address

1495 Smith Preserve Way
Naples, Florida 34102

Nature Center Hours

Monday - Saturday
9:30 am - 4:00 pm (ET)

Sunday: 12 pm - 4 pm

von Arx Wildlife Hospital Hours

239-262-2273
8 am - 8 pm (ET)
365 days a year

 

Contact

239-262-0304 phone
239-262-0672 fax

Take Action & Stay Informed

Stay connected!
*
*
*
*
  • Visit Us
  • Webmaster
  • Privacy Policy

©2019 Conservancy of Southwest Florida. All Rights Reserved

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida website uses cookies, tracking pixels and related technologies. Cookies are small data files that are served by our platform and stored on your device. Our site uses cookies dropped by us or third parties for a variety of purposes including to operate and personalize the website. Also, cookies may also be used to track how you use the site to target ads to you on other websites.