Threats derived by Hydrocarbons exploitation on populations of leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea in the Gulf of Venezuela

Amenazas derivadas de la explotación de hidrocarburos sobre poblaciones de tortugas cardón Dermochelys coriacea en el Golfo de Venezuela

  • Royner Carrasquero Universidad del Zulia
  • Héctor Barrios-Garrido Universidad del Zulia
Keywords: Upwelling, Hydrocarbons, Marine Traffic, Sea turtles, Feeding

Abstract

The Gulf of Venezuela represents an important area for feeding and development of the Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, in the southern Caribbean Sea. In order to assess potential risks associated with oil-related activities on Leatherback turtles in the Gulf of Venezuela. The present research aims to evaluate the possible risk factors that oil activities can generate on these animals, analyzing the frequencies and spatial coincidences of these threats with the critical habitats for leatherback turtles in the study area. This investigation was based on a data compilation of biological and anthropogenic available online. These records were analyzed and georeferenced. Assessed datasets are related to: (a) spatial-temporal strandings records of D. coriacea; (b) Identified zones where marine upwelling occurred (based on Sea Surface Temperature (SST); (c) High Marine Traffic areas; (d) Location of navigation channel at the south of Gulf of Venezuela; (e) Hydrocarbons pipeline location (Rio Seco-Tiguadare). All this was assessed to understand how potential threats to Leatherback turtles could be affecting or decreased the environmental quality by potential stressor agents originated by activities such as hydrocarbons transporting and refining. It is recommended to carry out field work and continue monitoring.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Royner Carrasquero, Universidad del Zulia

Laboratorio de Ecología General, Departamento de Biología, Centro de Modelado Científico (CMC), Facultad Experimental de Ciencias,  Universidad del Zulia.

Héctor Barrios-Garrido, Universidad del Zulia

Laboratorio de Ecología General, Departamento de Biología, Centro de Modelado Científico (CMC), Facultad Experimental de Ciencias, Universidad del Zulia.

References

Area L. (2011). El Golfo de Venezuela. Recuperado de: https://www.analitica.com/opinion/opinion-nacional/el-golfo-de-venezuela/

Barrios-Garrido H., Bolívar J., Benavides L. (2017). Evaluación de la pesquería de palangre artesanal y su efecto en la raya látigo (Dasyatis guttata) en Isla Zapara, Golfo de Venezuela. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 45 (2): 302-310.

Barrios-Garrido.H. (2018). Socio-economic drivers affecting marine turtle conservation status: Causes and consequences. PhD Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Major Environmental Sciences and Management) at College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University. Townsville, Australia. Pág. 106-146.

Barrios-Garrido H., García-Cruz M. (2019). Venezuela. In: Nalovic, M., Cuevas, E., and Godfrey, M. (Eds.) North Atlantic and Wider Caribbean: MTSG Regional Report. Report of the IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, 2019. 206-222.

Barrios-Garrido H., Becker P., Bjorndal K., Bolten A.B., Diez C.E., Espinoza-Rodríguez N., Fastigi M., Gray J., Harrison E., Hart K.A., Meylan A., Meylan P., Montiel-Villalobos M.G., Morales F., Nava M., Palmar J., Petit-Rodriguez M.J., Richardson P., Rodríguez-Clark K.M., Rojas-Cañiza- les D., Sandoval M.G., Valverde R.A., van Damf R., Walker J.T, Wildermann N. (2020) Sources and movements of marine turtles in the Gulf of Venezuela: Regional and local assessments. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 36 (8): 1-8.

Barrios-Garrido H., De Turris-Morales K., Espinoza-Rodriguez N. (2021). Guiana Dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) in the Maracaibo Lake System, Venezuela: Conservation, Threats, and Population Overview. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7 (594021):1-5.

Barrios-Garrido H., Montiel-Villalobos M. (2016) Strandings of Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) Along the Western and Southern Coast of the Gulf of Venezuela, Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 11 (1): 244–252.

Borrero Avellaneda W., Patiño E., Guerra M, Gouriyu W. (2013). New Evidence of Nesting Dermochelys coriacea (Tortuga Achepa) at Iporoimao-Utareo Beaches, Guajira, Colombia. Marine Turtle Newsletter, 137: 13-14.

Castellanos P., Varela R., Muller F. (2002). Descripción de las áreas de surgencia al sur del Mar Caribe examinadas con el sensor infrarrojo AVHRR. Mem. Fund. La Salle de Cienc. Nat, 154: 55-76.

Cortez R., Guevara M., Vásquez A., Lodeiros C. (2007). Influencia del Petróleo Crudo en el Crecimiento de Microalgas del Nororiente de Venezuela. Boletín del Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, 41 (4): 471–483.

Deng Y., Adzigbli L. (2018). Assessing the Impact of Oil Spills on Marine Organisms. Journal of Oceanography and Marine Research, 6 (1): 7.

Dodge K., Galuardi B., Miller T., Lutcavage M. (2014). Leatherback turtle movements, dive behavior, and habitat characteristics in ecoregions of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. PLoS One, 9 (3): 17.

El Nacional. (2020). Alarmante derrame de petróleo en el Golfete de Coro: una mancha que puede alcanzar 8 kilómetros. Recuperado de: https:// www.elnacional.com/venezuela/alarmante-derra- me-de-petroleo-en-el-golfete-de-coro-una-man- cha-que-puede-alcanzar-8-kilometros/

Espinoza-Rodríguez N., Vernet P., Morán L., Wildermann N., Barrios-Garrido H. (2013). Primer reporte de la actividad de anidación de tortugas marinas en la costa Nor-Occidental del Golfo de Venezuela. Boletín del Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, 47(1): 86-95.

Espinoza-Rodríguez N., De Turris-Morales K., Shimada T., Barrios-Garrido H. (2019). Guiana Dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) in the southern Gulf of Venezuela: Seasonal distribution, group size, and habitat use. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 32, (100874): 1-8.

Flynn B., Richardson A., Brierley A., Boyer A., Axelsen B., Scott L., Moroff N., Kainge P., Tjizoo B., Gibbons M. (2012). Temporal and spatial patterns in the abundance of jellyfish in the northern Benguela upwelling ecosystem and their link to thwarted pelagic fishery recovery. African Journal of Marine Science, 34 (1): 131-146.

Griffin E. (2010). Posibles efectos del vertido de petróleo de la plataforma Deepwater Horizon para las tortugas marinas. Oceana Informe 2010. Recuperado de: https://europe.oceana.org/es/ eu/prensa-e-informes/informes/posibles-efec- tos-del-vertido-de-petroleo-de-la-platafor- ma-deepwater-horizon-para-las-tortugas-mari

Guada H., Sole G. (2000). Plan de Acción para la Recuperación de las Tortugas Marinas de Venezuela. Kingston, Jamaica. Informe Técnico del PAC. 39.

Hamann M., Godfrey M., Seminoff J., Arthur K., Barata P., Bjorndal K., Bolten A., Broderick A., Campbell L., Carreras C., Casale P., Chaloupka M., Chan S., Coyne M., Crowder L., Diez C., Dutton P., Epperly S., FitzSimmons N., Formia A., Girondot M., Hays G., Cheng I., Kaska Y., Lewison R., Mortimer J., Nichols W., Reina R., Shanker K., Spotila J., Tomas J., Wallace B., Work T., Zbinden J., Godley B. (2010). Global research priorities for sea turtles: informing management and conservation in the 21st century. Endangered Species Research, 11: 245-269.

Hernández O. (2020). Venezuela: unos 20.000 barriles de petróleo podrían haberse derramado en las costas de Falcón y Carabobo. (Documento en línea). Recuperado de: https://cnnespanol. cnn.com/2020/08/13/venezuela-unos-20-000-ba-rriles-de-petroleo-podrian-haberse-derrama- do-en-las-costas-de-falcon-y-carabobo/

Klein E. (2008). Prioridades de PDVSA en la conservación de la biodiversidad en el Caribe Venezolano. Caracas, Venezuela: Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. Universidad Simón Bolívar. The Nature Conservancy. Pág. 71.

Milton S., Lutz P., Shigenaka G. (2003). Oil toxicity and impacts on sea turtles. Oil and Sea Turtles: Biology, Planning, and Response. NOAA National Ocean Service. Pág. 35-47

Miloslavich P., Klein E., Yerena E., Martin A. (2003). Marine biodiversity in Venezuela: status and perspectives Biodiversidad marina en Venezuela: Estado actual y perspectivas. Gayana, 67 (2): 275-301.

Miloslavich P., Díaz J., Klein E., Alvarado J., Díaz C., Gobin J., Escobar-Briones E., Cruz-Motta J., Weil E., Cortés J., Bastidas A., Robertson R., Zapata F., Martín A., Castillo J., Kazandjian A., Ortiz

M. (2010). Marine Biodiversity in the Caribbean: Regional Estimates and Distribution Patterns. PLoS ONE Collection: Marine Biodiversity and Biogeography Regional Comparisons of Global Issues, 5 (8): 25.

Queiroga H., Silva C., Sorbe J., Morgado F. (2005). Composition and distribution of zooplankton across an upwelling front on the northern Portuguese coast during summer. Hydrobiologia, 545: 195–207.

Rees A., Alfaro-Shigueto J., Barata P., Bjorndal K., Bolten A., Bourjea J., Godley B. (2016). Are we working towards global research priorities for management and conservation of sea turtles? Endangered Species Research, 31: 337-382.

Rodríguez-Centeno M., Díaz-Ramos J., Charzeddine L. (2010). Biomasa y abundancia del fitopancton en la Isla La Tortuga, Dependencia Federal, Venezuela, Bol. Inst. Oceanogr. Venezuela, 49 (1): 77-86.

Rojas-Cañizales D., Espinoza-Rodríguez N., Rodríguez M.., Palmar J., Montiel-Villalobos M.., Wildermann N., Barrios-Garrido H. (2021). Leather-back turtles (Dermochelys coriácea) in the Gulf of Venezuela updated stranding assessment 2001- 2014. Marine and Fisheries Sciences, 34 (1): 113-119.

Rondón-Medicci M., Buitrago J., Guada H. (2010). Biología reproductiva de la tortuga cardón (Dermochelys coriacea) en playas de la península de Paria, Venezuela, durante las temporadas de anidación 2000-2006. Interciencia, 35(4): 263-270.

Rondón-Medicci M., Guada H., Buitrago J., Balladares, C. (2015). Cardón, Dermochelys coriacea. In J. P. Rodríguez A. García-Rawlins & F. Rojas-Suarez (Eds.), Libro Rojo de la Fauna Venezolana. Caracas, Venezuela: Provita, Fundación Empresas Polar. Pág. 155-156

Rodríguez G. (2000). El Sistema de Maracaibo. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC). Caracas, Venezuela. Pág.1-8.

Rueda-Roa D., Ezer T., Muller F. (2018). Description and Mechanisms of the Mid-Year Upwelling in the Southern Caribbean Sea from Remote Sensing and Local Data Journal of Marine Sciences, 6 (36): 19.

Rueda-Roa D., Muller-Karger F. (2013). The southern Caribbean upwelling system: Sea surface temperature, wind forcing and chlorophyll concentration patterns. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 78: 102-114.

Saba V., Pilar Santidrían-Tomillo., Richard D. Reina. (2007). The effect of the El Niño Southern Oscillation on the Reproductive Frequency of Eastern Pacific Leatherback Turtles. Journal of Applied Ecology, 44: 395–404.

Schenk C., Tennyson M., Mercier T., Gaswirth S., Marra K., Le P., Klett T. (2017). Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources of the Maracaibo Basin Province of Venezuela and Colombia, 2016 Fact Sheet. Reston, VA, Pág.1-2.

Wallace B., Stacy B., Cuevas E., Holyoake C., Lara P., Marcondes A., Shigenaka G. (2020). Oil spills and sea turtles: documented effects and considerations for response and assessment efforts. Endangered Species Research, 41: 17-37.

Wildermann N., Gredzens C., Avens L., Barrios-Garrido H., Bell I., Blumenthal J., Bolten A., Braun McNeill J., Casale P., Di Domenico M., Domit C., Epperly S., Godfrey M., Godley B., González-Carman V., Hamann M., Hart K., Ishihara T., Mansfield K., Metz T., Miller J., Pilcher N., Read M., Sasso C., Seminoff J., Seney E., Southwood Williard A., Tomás J., Vélez-Rubio G., Ware M., Williams J.L., Wyneken J., Fuentes M. (2018). Informing research priorities for immature sea turtles through expert elicitation. Endang Species Res, 37: 55–76.

Zeigler J. (1964). The hydrography and sediments of the Gulf of Venezuela. Limnology and Oceanography, 9: 397–411.
Published
2021-10-10
How to Cite
Carrasquero, R., & Barrios-Garrido, H. (2021). Threats derived by Hydrocarbons exploitation on populations of leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea in the Gulf of Venezuela: Amenazas derivadas de la explotación de hidrocarburos sobre poblaciones de tortugas cardón Dermochelys coriacea en el Golfo de Venezuela. REDIELUZ, 11(1), 76-84. Retrieved from https://mail.produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/redieluz/article/view/36937
Section
Ciencias Exactas, Naturales y Agropecuarias