Assessment of sea-turtle status and trends : integrating demography and abundance

All six species of sea turtles found in U.S. waters are listed as endangered or threatened, but the exact population sizes of these species are unknown due to a lack of key information regarding birth and survival rates. The U.S. Endangered Species Act prohibits the hunting of sea turtles and reduces incidental losses from activities such as shrimp trawling and development on beaches used for nesting. However, current monitoring does not provide enough information on sea turtle populations to evaluate the effectiveness of these protective measures. __Sea Turtle Status and Trends__ reviews current methods for assessing sea turtle populations and finds that although counts of sea turtles are essential, more detailed information on sea turtle biology, such as survival rates and breeding patterns, is needed to predict and understand changes in populations in order to develop successful management and conservation plans. Introduction -- Units Of Assessment -- Conceptual Model Of Sea-turtle Abundance And Demography -- Abundance And Trends -- Demographic Rates -- Integrating Demographic Information With Abundance Estimates -- Cross-cutting Issues : Data, Education, Permits, And Coordination -- Conclusions And Recommendations -- Appendix A: Brief History Of Alternative Genetic Markers -- Appendix B: Population-structure Models -- Appendix C: Committee And Staff Biographies. Summary -- Introduction -- Units Of Assessment -- Conceptual Model Of Sea-turtle Abundance And Demography -- Abundance And Trends -- Demographic Rates -- Integrating Demographic Information With Abundance Estimates -- Cross-cutting Issues : Data, Education, Permits, And Coordination -- Conclusions And Recommendations -- Appendix A: Brief History Of Alternative Genetic Markers -- Appendix B: Population-structure Models -- Appendix C: Committee And Staff Biographies. Committee On The Review Of Sea-turtle Population Assessment Methods, Ocean Studies Board, Division On Earth And Life Studies, National Research Council Of The National Academies. This Study Was Supported By Contract No. Dg133r08cq0062 Between The National Academy Of Sciences And The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration.--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 125-151). Also Available Online.