Green and hawksbill turtle detection and abundance at foraging grounds in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Abundance estimates corrected for changes in detection are needed to assess population trends. We used transect-count surveys and N-mixture models to estimate green turtle Chelonia mydas and hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata detection and total abundance at foraging grounds in Bonaire during 2003-2018, and we used these total abundance estimates to fit a Bayesian state-space logistic model and make abundance predictions for 2019-2030. During 2019-2022, we also recorded distance categories to estimate detection and total abundance using distance sampling and N-mixture models. In the present study, we focus on distance sampling to estimate observer detectability and total abundance, and to determine if total abundance increased, declined, or did not change during 2019-2022 and when compared with 2003-2018 estimates and 2019-2030 predictions. Detectability averaged 0.53 (SE = 0.02) for green turtles and 0.51 (SE = 0.06) for hawksbill turtles. Density (ind. km-2) and population size (individuals in the 4 km2 survey region) averaged 72.1 (SE = 17.3) and 288 (SE = 69) for green turtles and 21.8 (SE = 4.6) and 87 (SE = 18) for hawksbill turtles. Green turtle total abundance did not change during 2019-2022 (p > 0.05) but remained low when compared with 2003-2018 estimates and 2019-2030 predictions. Hawksbill turtle total abundance declined between 2020 and 2021 (z = 2.15, p = 0.03) and increased between 2021 and 2022 (z = -3.04, p = 0.002), but 2019-2022 estimates were similar to 2003-2018 estimates and 2019-2030 predictions. Our methodology can be used to monitor sea turtle populations at coastal foraging grounds in the Caribbean.

Automated summary

Abundance estimates of green turtles and hawksbill turtles at foraging grounds in Bonaire were obtained using transect-count surveys, N-mixture models, and distance sampling during 2003-2022. The study found that the total abundance of green turtles remained stable from 2019 to 2022, while the total abundance of hawksbill turtles decreased between 2020 and 2021 and increased between 2021 and 2022. However, the overall estimates were similar to previous estimates and predictions. The methodology used in this study can be applied to monitor sea turtle populations in the Caribbean.