Preliminary data on the occurrence of marine turtles in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (SP, Brazil)

Although marine turtles have always been observed by divers, there are few scientific works on marine turtles in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (PEMLS). Diurnal (bimonthly) and nocturnal (biannual) surveys were conducted between 2013 and 2015 for a more comprehensive study, totalizing 42 hours of diurnal observations and the capture of 41 turtles during nocturnal dives. During the diurnal surveys, visual observations were made from two land based sites (Paredão da Face Sul and Portinho). The numbers of heads (heads observed whether they are of the same turtle or not) and turtles (individuals observed in groups) were counted. The results showed the presence of marine turtles throughout the year. More turtles were observed from Paredão da Face Sul than from Portinho, the latter being a more sheltered point and a site preferred by divers. The nocturnal surveys consisted of the capture of turtles through scuba diving so they could be measured and weighed and tagged according to the guide-lines of the TAMAR project. Four nocturnal surveys were conducted and in the last survey three tagged turtles were captured, two of them having been tagged during this study. The measurements of these turtles indicated their growth during the study period.The present survey also highlighted the importance of the PEMLS as a feeding area for juvenile marine turtles.Apesar de serem muito observadas por mergulhadores, poucos trabalhos científicos foram realizados com as tartarugas marinhas no Parque Estadual Marinho da Laje de Santos (PEMLS). No período entre 2013 e 2015 campanhas diurnas e noturnas foram realizadas para maior abrangência deste estudo, totalizando 42 horas de observações e 41 tartarugas capturadas em mergulhos noturnos. Nas campanhas diurnas foram realizadas observações em dois pontos fixos: Paredão da Face Sul e Portinho. Foram contabilizadas as cabeças (número de cabeças observadas, independentemente de serem do mesmo animal ou não) e tartarugas (indivíduos únicos, geralmente observados em grupos). De acordo com os resultados, pôde-se notar a presença de tartarugas marinhas ao longo de todo o ano. Foram observados mais tartarugas no lado do Paredão da Face Sul do que no Portinho, sendo este último ponto mais abrigado e local de preferência dos mergulhadores. Já as campanhas noturnas consistiram na captura de tartarugas através de mergulho autônomo para que as mesmas fossem medidas, pesadas e anilhadas conforme orientação do Projeto TAMAR. Foram realizadas quatro campanhas noturnas, sendo que na última campanha, houve captura de três tartarugas anilhadas, incluindo dois exemplares previamente marcados pela nossa equipe. Os resultados indicaram crescimento das tartarugas no período de estudo. O presente levantamento evidenciou a elevada importância do PEMLS como área de alimentação de tartarugas marinhas juvenis

Preliminary data on the occurrence of marine turtles in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (SP, Brazil)

Abstract Although marine turtles have always been observed by divers, there are few scientific works on marine turtles in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (PEMLS). Diurnal (bimonthly) and nocturnal (biannual) surveys were conducted between 2013 and 2015 for a more comprehensive study, totalizing 42 hours of diurnal observations and the capture of 41 turtles during nocturnal dives. During the diurnal surveys, visual observations were made from two land based sites (Paredão da Face Sul and Portinho). The numbers of heads (heads observed whether they are of the same turtle or not) and turtles (individuals observed in groups) were counted. The results showed the presence of marine turtles throughout the year. More turtles were observed from Paredão da Face Sul than from Portinho, the latter being a more sheltered point and a site preferred by divers. The nocturnal surveys consisted of the capture of turtles through scuba diving so they could be measured and weighed and tagged according to the guide-lines of the TAMAR project. Four nocturnal surveys were conducted and in the last survey three tagged turtles were captured, two of them having been tagged during this study. The measurements of these turtles indicated their growth during the study period.The present survey also highlighted the importance of the PEMLS as a feeding area for juvenile marine turtles