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Atlantic Loggerhead Recovery Team
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville Field Office
Jacksonville, Florida
28-31 March 2005
Meeting Minutes
Team members in attendance:
- Alan Bolten – Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida
- Larry Crowder – Duke University Marine Laboratory
- Mark Dodd – Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Sandy MacPherson – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Jack Musick – Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary
- Blair Witherington – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Rapporteur: Kristy Long – U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service
Threats Analysis – The Team discussed the threats analyses and went through each cell to finalize references and standardize text. The Team agreed to use “sub-lethal” instead of “non-lethal” effects in the threats analyses. The Team also discussed the introduction section for the threats tables (how to use the threats tables) in the plan. Particularly, the Team noted they should explain how they intend for people to use the threats tables and the information contained within them, while noting how the matrix models were built and where we lack data/knowledge.
Implementation Schedule – The Team spent considerable time developing the implementation schedule, focusing primarily on the responsible parties and cost estimate columns. The Team decided that when an action includes the word “maintain” or “continue,” it includes base funding; all other action items do not include base funds. One team member suggested adding a column for “recommended funding source.” The Team decided to footnote those rows where non-government funding contributes to the action, so it is clear the cost estimate is partial and may include other funding sources and/or volunteer effort. Also, the Team decided to include a second footnote for activities that involve other species of sea turtles, e.g., an activity that involves a position whose duties include other responsibilities in addition to loggerhead recovery.
Recovery Unit Definitions – The Team finalized the definitions for the Recovery Units that are included in the recovery plan. The Team examined loggerhead nesting densities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to define peaks and gaps in nesting. The Team identified five major nesting peaks based on nesting density and geographic isolation.
The five major nesting peaks are: 1) Cape Romain , South Carolina ; 2) southeast Florida ( Brevard County through Palm Beach County ); 3) Dry Tortugas , Florida ; 4) Sarasota County , Florida ; and 5) St. Joseph Peninsula ( Gulf County ), Florida .
Nesting females from each of these five areas are geographically isolated and genetically distinct based on mtDNA haplotype frequencies, except females nesting in southeast Florida , which are indistinguishable from those at Sarasota County (southwest Florida ).
Therefore, the Team designated four recovery units within the U.S. loggerhead nesting range: 1) Northern, 2) South Florida, 3) Northern Gulf, and 4) Dry Tortugas . The boundaries of these four recovery units were delineated based on geographic isolation and geopolitical boundaries. Life History Tables – The Team further refined the two life history tables that have been put together for inclusion in the recovery plan.
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