Biologists Find Clue in Mystery of ‘Lost Years’

Biologists at the University of Florida have found a major clue in the long-standing mystery about what happens to green sea turtles after they crawl out of their sandy nests and vanish into the surf, only to reappear several years later relatively close to shore.

Analysis of chemical elements ingrained in the turtle shells indicates that turtles spend the first three to five “lost years” in the open ocean, feeding on jellyfish and other creatures as carnivores. Only after this period do they move closer to shore and switch to a vegetarian diet of sea grass – the period in their lives when they have long been observed and studied.

“This has been a really intriguing and embarrassing problem for sea turtle biologists, because so many green turtle hatchlings enter the ocean, and we haven’t known where they go,” said Karen Bjorndal, a professor of zoology and director of UF’s Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research. “Now, while I can’t go to a map and point at the spot, at least we know their habitats and diets, and that will show us where to look.”

The discovery may aid in conservation of green turtles — which, like all sea turtles, are classified as endangered. “You can’t protect something,” said Bjorndal, “if you don’t know where it is.”

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A robotic air sampler designed to mimic the movements of a child six to 12 months old will be used to study how young children are exposed to red tide as they play on beaches. PIPER – which stands for Pre-toddler Inhalable Particulate Environmental Robotic – was first deployed on Siesta Key in September as part of Mote Marine Laboratory’s ongoing studies on the effects of red tide.

Children, notes PIPER inventor Dr. Stuart Shalat of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, are typically exposed to higher levels of toxic materials at ground level than at a standard height. “When children are moving, exposure can be 100 times more,” he adds.

Since 2001, Mote has been working with researchers to investigate the impact that these airborne organisms have on people. In the three-year study, scientists have been looking at how red tide affects two groups of people: Healthy lifeguards and volunteers who have asthma or chronic pulmonary disease (COPD). Now infants have been added to the mix.

“We’re very excited to have Dr. Shalat come on board with this study,” said Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, manager of Mote’s Environmental Health Program. “We’re just now getting a better understanding of how red tide toxins affect adults with asthma. Dr. Shalat has done work looking at how young children’s exposure levels may differ from adults and may affect them when they get older. This is a really important piece of the red tide puzzle.”
The beach-bound robots join three autonomous underwater vehicles which detect the presence of red tide offshore out to about 40 miles and seven stationary monitors attached to buoys from Sarasota south to Charlotte Harbor.

A water conservation project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County is expected to reduce demand and conserve potable water.

The project encourages the use of the surficial aquifer, Floridan aquifer, and surface water from lakes, ponds, rivers and streams for non-potable applications, such as lawn irrigation. Residents who live in portions of the county’s potable service area that will not be receiving reclaimed water service are eligible to receive a rebate of up to $300 for installing a well or pump. Up to 500 residents who meet the program requirements may participate.

As part of the program, participants must agree to random metering by the county and cannot use potable water for irrigation while they are participating in the program.

Eligible residents interested in participating in the project can learn more by visiting the Pinellas County web site at www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/rebate-aws.htm or by contacting the Alternate Water Sources Rebate Program at 727-464-3688.

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Linda J. McAllister	Erica L. Moulton	Emily Stehle

Linda J. McAllister, CFRE, was named development director and will be responsible for fundraising, membership and volunteers. McAllister, who has 26 years of development experience, was curator of advancement at the Florida Air Museum at Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In, Lakeland for four years and has held senior fundraising jobs at The Florida Aquarium and Moffitt Cancer Research Center.

Erica L. Moulton was named education and public programs director and will be responsible for the development of educational programing and supervision of the marine education staff. Moulton was a program biologist for 10 years at Hillsborough Community College where she designed, developed, and implemented continuing education and non-credit environmental education courses. She also has worked for The Florida Aquarium, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Mote Marine Laboratory.

Emily Stehle, APR, was promoted to PR/marketing director and will be responsible for public relations and marketing functions of the aquarium. Stehle has more than 30 years of diverse experience in journalism and public relations and had been working part-time at the aquarium since 2005.

“Sarasota Bay: Celebrating Our Water Heritage,” a video promoting the region’s natural and cultural assets, will make its premier in November featuring interviews with people who’ve helped protect the bay.

Interviews with County Commissioner Jon Thaxton, Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member Pat Glass (who also is a former county commissioner and a founding member of the Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor National Estuaries Programs) and Tom Dabney, chair of the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Regulation Committee are highlighted. They are joined by Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County director of lands management, Jono Miller, co-director of environmental studies at New College, Dr. Ernie Estevez, director of the Center for Coastal Ecology at Mote Marine Lab, Jack Merriam, Sarasota County water resource manager, and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program staff.

The video was produced by Caroline McKeon, president and founder of Florida Journeys Communications, which was recently named as agency of record for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.

“SBEP not only focuses on water quality and enhancing the assets of the entire watershed, but also fully recognizes the impact of Sarasota Bay as the economic engine of our area,” she said. “A ‘healthy Sarasota Bay equals a healthy economy’ is one of the driving themes we will develop and promote.”