Dataset Restricted

Biological collection and tagging of sea turtles in Matagorda Bay, Texas from 2019-08-03 to 2021-07-31

Authors: Wildermann, N.E., P.T. Plotkin, D.M. Coffey, and G.W Stunz.
Published On: Nov 28 2023 16:34 UTC
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7266/ejms49gs
UDI: HI.x949.000:0008
Project Information

Funded By:
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Research Group:
Fisheries and Ocean Health

Point of Contact

Greg W. Stunz
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi / The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
greg.stunz@tamucc.edu

Data Collection Period
2019-08-03
to
2021-07-31
Theme keywords

sea turtle, capture, tagging, Caretta caretta, Eretmochelys imbricata, Dermochelys coriacea, Lepidochelys kempii, Chelonia mydas

ISO 19115-2 Metadata
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Abstract:

This dataset contains biological collection and tagging of sea turtles in Matagorda Bay, Texas obtained from 2019-08-03 to 2021-07-31. In this study, biological material such as muscle, blood, skin, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract samples were also collected from collected sea turtles.

Suggested Citation:

Wildermann, N.E., P.T. Plotkin, D.M. Coffey, and G.W Stunz.. 2023. Biological collection and tagging of sea turtles in Matagorda Bay, Texas from 2019-08-03 to 2021-07-31. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/ejms49gs

Purpose:

To collect biological samples and tag sea turtles in Matagorda Bay, Texas.

Data Parameters and Units:

Data2019-2021 definitions Entry # Number of data entries Date formatted cell (date) Day Month Year Time formatted cell (time) 24 hour format Species Cc=Caretta caretta; Cm=Chelonia myda; Ei=Eretmochelys imbricata; Dc=Dermochelys coriacea; Lk=Lepidochelys kempii LAT decimal degress LONG decimal degrees FP presence of fibropapilloma? yes (y) or no (n) FPGrade 1-3 as per PAIS definition PreviousTag previously tagged? yes (y) or no (n) RightTag right flipper tag number(should be even and higher number) LeftTag left flipper tag number (should be uneven and lower number) SkinSample skin sample taken? yes (y) or no (n) SkinSample# vial number for skin sample ScuteSample scute sample taken? yes (y) or no (n) ScuteSample# vial number for scute sample AcousticTag acoustic tag attached? yes (y) or no (n) AcousticTag# ID (SN) of acoustic tag SatelliteTag satellite tag attached? yes (y) or no (n) SatelliteTag# ID (SN) of satellite tag CCL curved carapace length (noth to tip) in cm CCW curved carapace width (widest part) in cm SCL straigth carapace length (notch to tip) in cm SCW straigth carapace width (widest part) in cm SCD straight carapace depth (deepest part) in cm Mass body mass in kg Observations all additional observations, including the position and description (smooth vs. papillary) of FP tumors, and names of marked turtles (""). NetSetting Definitions Date formatted cell (date) Day Month Year LAT decimal degress LONG decimal degrees Nets 1 and 2 Sizes Entanglement net size of first and second net sets Net1_In Local time (Central Standard/Daylight Time) when first entanglement net is deployed using 24-hour time format Net1_Out Local time (Central Standard/Daylight Time) when first entanglement net is retrieved using 24-hour time format Net1_SoakTime Total time first entanglement net is deployed in the water (soak time) in hours Net2_In Local time (Central Standard/Daylight Time) when second entanglement net is deployed using 24-hour time format Net2_Out Local time (Central Standard/Daylight Time) when second entanglement net is retrieved using 24-hour time format Net2_SoakTime Total time second entanglement net is deployed in the water (soak time) in hours Total_DailySoakTime Daily cumulative time all entanglement nets are deployed in the water (soak time) in hours ByCatch Total number and sex (M = male, F = female, U = unidentified) of non-targeted (bycatch) species captured in entanglement nets #Turtles Total daily number of individual sea turtles captured in entanglement nets Turtle Species Sea turtle species captured in entanglement nets Strandings Definitions Event Unique stranding event Entry # Unique record entry code Date Local date of stranded sea turtle observation (yyyy-mm-dd) Species Stranded sea turtle species LAT Latitude of stranded sea turtle observation (decimal degrees) LONG Longitude of stranded sea turtle observation (decimal degrees) PreviousTag Previously tagged? Yes (Y) or No (N) RightTag Right flipper tag number (should be even and higher number) LeftTag Feft flipper tag number (should be odd and lower number) CCL Curved carapace length (noth to tip) in cm CCW Curved carapace width (widest part) in cm SCL Straight carapace length (notch to tip) in cm *SCW Straight carapace width (widest part) in cm *SCD Straight carapace depth (deepest part) in cm; note bloated sea turtles may not reflect real measurement at moment of death Sex Stranded sea turtle sex (M = male, F = female, U = unidentified) FP Presence of Fibropapillomatosis? Yes (Y) or no (N) SkinSampleID# Vial number for skin sample ScuteSample Scute sample taken? Yes (Y) or No (N) ScuteSampleID# Vial number for scute sample MuscleSample Muscle sample taken? Yes (Y) or No (N) MuscleSampleID# Vial number for muscle sample BloodSample Blood sample taken? Yes (Y) or No (N) BloodSampleID# Vial number for blood sample GItractContentSample Gastrointestinal tract sample taken? Yes (Y) or No (N) GItractContentSampleID# (# jars) Jar number for gastrointestinal tract sample and how many jars the sample is in Gitract_SIASample Gastrointestinal tract sample taken for stable isotope analysis? Yes (Y) or No (N) Gitract_SIASampleID# Vial number for gastrointestinal tract sample for stable isotope analysis Observations All additional observations including gastrointestinal tract contents

Methods:

Entanglement nets were used to capture sea turtles, then acoustic and/or satellite tags were affixed to the carapace of live sea turtles. Biological samples including muscle, blood, skin, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract samples were collected from captured sea turtles.