An individual based larval dispersion model for the Hawaiian hawskbill sea turtle in the Hawaiian archipelago
Graduation Date
2011
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, Environmental Systems: Mathematical Modeling, 2011
Committee Chair Name
Christopher Dugaw
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Eretmochelys imbricata, Hawskbill, Larval dispersion, Hawaiian Archipelago, Sea turtle, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Biology, Individual-based model
Abstract
The Hawaiian hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered species, with an observed adult female population of approximately 6-20, nesting each year at known nesting sites on the big island of Hawaii. To create efficient management strategies for the survival of the species, a better understanding of habitat selection in the early stages of the hawksbill's life is needed. We investigate an individual-based, advection-diffusion, larval transport model, as it applies to the Hawaiian hawksbill population in the greater Hawaiian Archipelago. The model considers the release time and location, size, foraging behavior, and geographic location of the hawksbill hatchlings first three years of life, over a six year period of study, and how their habitat selection may be affected by the geostrophic currents, sea surface temperatures, and chlorophyll-a concentrations that they encounter. Results indicate that the inclusion of simple behavior rules significantly (p 0.01) increases retention, exposure to higher sea surface temperatures, and exposure to higher chlorophyll-a concentrations. Statistical analysis suggests a need to consider all three environmental parameters of the ocean surface currents, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll-a concentration to better predict the resulting distribution of the individuals.
Recommended Citation
Falbo, Kyle Robert, "An individual based larval dispersion model for the Hawaiian hawskbill sea turtle in the Hawaiian archipelago" (2011). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 1171.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/1171
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/nz806224f