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Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles

Holly Stokes Orcid Logo, Graeme C. Hays Orcid Logo, Kimberley L. Stokes Orcid Logo, Nicole Esteban Orcid Logo

Ecology and Evolution, Volume: 15, Issue: 9

Swansea University Authors: Holly Stokes Orcid Logo, Nicole Esteban Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1002/ece3.72138

Abstract

Abundance estimates are difficult to obtain for many animal groups, yet essential for endangered species management and conservation. For sea turtles, estimates are made from ground counts of nesting females, tracks, and nests, but these are challenging at remote locations. Here we explore the appli...

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Published in: Ecology and Evolution
ISSN: 2045-7758 2045-7758
Published: Wiley 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70254
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For sea turtles, estimates are made from ground counts of nesting females, tracks, and nests, but these are challenging at remote locations. Here we explore the applicability of using camera traps to monitor and estimate sea turtle nesting tracks at a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookery in the Western Indian Ocean.Camera traps (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;13) were deployed to photograph turtle tracks daily along a 2.8&#x2009;km beach in Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago in 2021 and 2022. Foot patrol surveys were conducted in April and May 2021 and August 2022 (14, 13 and 20&#x2009;days, respectively). Track counts were compared from both methods to validate the use of cameras.From foot patrol surveys, we observed an increase in track counts around neap tides (mean&#x2009;&#xB1;&#x2009;SD: 5.0&#x2009;&#xB1;&#x2009;4.0 tracks per day; n&#x2009;=&#x2009;131 tracks) compared to spring tides (2.4&#x2009;&#xB1;&#x2009;1.8 tracks per day; n&#x2009;=&#x2009;51 tracks). 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spelling 2025-10-06T15:41:51.7752315 v2 70254 2025-09-02 Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles 6ee6932996059ed9e4d581641acce2f7 0000-0001-9401-913X Holly Stokes Holly Stokes true false fb2e760b83b4580e7445092982f1f319 0000-0003-4693-7221 Nicole Esteban Nicole Esteban true false 2025-09-02 BGPS Abundance estimates are difficult to obtain for many animal groups, yet essential for endangered species management and conservation. For sea turtles, estimates are made from ground counts of nesting females, tracks, and nests, but these are challenging at remote locations. Here we explore the applicability of using camera traps to monitor and estimate sea turtle nesting tracks at a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookery in the Western Indian Ocean.Camera traps (n = 13) were deployed to photograph turtle tracks daily along a 2.8 km beach in Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago in 2021 and 2022. Foot patrol surveys were conducted in April and May 2021 and August 2022 (14, 13 and 20 days, respectively). Track counts were compared from both methods to validate the use of cameras.From foot patrol surveys, we observed an increase in track counts around neap tides (mean ± SD: 5.0 ± 4.0 tracks per day; n = 131 tracks) compared to spring tides (2.4 ± 1.8 tracks per day; n = 51 tracks). Mean track longevity was similar during neap (2.9 ± 2.0 days; n = 39 tracks) and spring tides (2.7 ± 2.6 days; n = 20 tracks). Mean daily track counts were comparable during neap tides (camera traps: 7.3 ± 12.9 tracks cf. patrols: 5.0 ± 4.0 tracks) and across the tidal cycle (camera traps: 5.5 ± 13.1 tracks cf. patrols: 3.9 ± 3.4 tracks). Using simulated data, we found track count variability decreased in a power-law relationship with increasing coverage by cameras. The disparity in track counts between methods would likely decrease if beach coverage increased from 5% to 20%.Camera traps provide a complementary tool to fill data gaps at remote sites that would otherwise have little to no assessments. Furthermore, the increased temporal coverage from cameras can help identify changes in nesting phenology and trends in nesting numbers. Journal Article Ecology and Evolution 15 9 Wiley 2045-7758 2045-7758 endangered species; marine megafauna; marine protected area (MPA); marine turtle; population monitoring; remote monitoring; sampling 15 9 2025 2025-09-15 10.1002/ece3.72138 COLLEGE NANME Biosciences Geography and Physics School COLLEGE CODE BGPS Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) Fondation Bertarelli (GrantNumber(s): 2017-4, 820633); Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 2025-10-06T15:41:51.7752315 2025-09-02T09:04:46.4234822 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences Holly Stokes 0000-0001-9401-913X 1 Graeme C. Hays 0000-0002-3314-8189 2 Kimberley L. Stokes 0000-0001-5144-5008 3 Nicole Esteban 0000-0003-4693-7221 4 70254__35265__0a4512b71ad140d4b413a8259c3cc9a7.pdf 70254.VoR.pdf 2025-10-06T15:39:47.4608343 Output 711627 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles
spellingShingle Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles
Holly Stokes
Nicole Esteban
title_short Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles
title_full Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles
title_fullStr Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles
title_full_unstemmed Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles
title_sort Camera Traps: A Novel Method to Estimate Numbers of Nesting Sea Turtles
author_id_str_mv 6ee6932996059ed9e4d581641acce2f7
fb2e760b83b4580e7445092982f1f319
author_id_fullname_str_mv 6ee6932996059ed9e4d581641acce2f7_***_Holly Stokes
fb2e760b83b4580e7445092982f1f319_***_Nicole Esteban
author Holly Stokes
Nicole Esteban
author2 Holly Stokes
Graeme C. Hays
Kimberley L. Stokes
Nicole Esteban
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container_title Ecology and Evolution
container_volume 15
container_issue 9
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 2045-7758
2045-7758
doi_str_mv 10.1002/ece3.72138
publisher Wiley
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
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department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
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description Abundance estimates are difficult to obtain for many animal groups, yet essential for endangered species management and conservation. For sea turtles, estimates are made from ground counts of nesting females, tracks, and nests, but these are challenging at remote locations. Here we explore the applicability of using camera traps to monitor and estimate sea turtle nesting tracks at a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookery in the Western Indian Ocean.Camera traps (n = 13) were deployed to photograph turtle tracks daily along a 2.8 km beach in Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago in 2021 and 2022. Foot patrol surveys were conducted in April and May 2021 and August 2022 (14, 13 and 20 days, respectively). Track counts were compared from both methods to validate the use of cameras.From foot patrol surveys, we observed an increase in track counts around neap tides (mean ± SD: 5.0 ± 4.0 tracks per day; n = 131 tracks) compared to spring tides (2.4 ± 1.8 tracks per day; n = 51 tracks). Mean track longevity was similar during neap (2.9 ± 2.0 days; n = 39 tracks) and spring tides (2.7 ± 2.6 days; n = 20 tracks). Mean daily track counts were comparable during neap tides (camera traps: 7.3 ± 12.9 tracks cf. patrols: 5.0 ± 4.0 tracks) and across the tidal cycle (camera traps: 5.5 ± 13.1 tracks cf. patrols: 3.9 ± 3.4 tracks). Using simulated data, we found track count variability decreased in a power-law relationship with increasing coverage by cameras. The disparity in track counts between methods would likely decrease if beach coverage increased from 5% to 20%.Camera traps provide a complementary tool to fill data gaps at remote sites that would otherwise have little to no assessments. Furthermore, the increased temporal coverage from cameras can help identify changes in nesting phenology and trends in nesting numbers.
published_date 2025-09-15T05:32:10Z
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