Sea turtle nest relocation: is it a viable management tool? assessing the success of relocated loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nests in Mon Repos, Qld

Southern Queensland supports the largest rookeries for the South Pacific subpopulation of Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta), which is listed as “Critically Endangered” under the IUCN Red List. This population has experienced a greater than 80% decline since the mid-1970s and continues to be dependent on conservation actions due to persistent threats. Clutch relocation is a commonly used management tool at many of Queensland’s loggerhead rookeries, as many clutches face tidal inundation, predation, and high incubation temperatures, and would otherwise be at risk of embryonic death. While clutch relocation is known to improve hatching success amid human-induced impacts, it can be time-consuming and is most effective when there is intensive monitoring of the nesting beach to ensure suitable numbers are protected. Also, while guidelines exist, current information on inadvertent sublethal impacts on hatchlings is not wellknown. As this genetic population is critically endangered, understanding the costs and benefits of clutch relocation, and if needed, updating clutch relocation procedures, is critical to ensure best practice management. This project examines long-term monitoring data to evaluate the overall success of relocated clutches and identify factors that influence hatching outcomes, such as hatchling and emergence success in immediate versus late relocations, relocations of different durations, and spatial variations in relocations. In addition, experimental manipulations are used to compare hatching success and hatchling locomotor performance across different relocation methods used to mitigate threats such as high sand temperatures, tidal inundation, and predation. Leveraging Queensland’s unique long-term dataset, this project applies a novel and innovative lens to multi-season nesting dynamics. Together, these approaches provide evidencebased recommendations to refine management and relocation protocols, leading to improved conservation outcomes.

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44th Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation

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3106-1397

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