Brazil Turtle Communication Study Proves Acoustic Value

Brazil TAMAR IBAMA internationally recognized marine turtle conservation program.

A new study on Turtle communications conducted in Brazil proves once again the value and importance of the acoustic environment.

Press of Brazil reported on August 18^th that scientists had discovered communications never recorded before between river turtles. BBC reported on August 17^th that river turtle mothers 'talk' to their hatchlings. The findings of the investigations were published at the Journal Herpetologica. Strange turtle communications were released into the public domain. The study assures that turtles are more socially complex than previously thought.

Research was conducted by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the National Institute of Amazonian Research in the river Trombetas in the Amazon between 2009 and 2011. The team utilized sound equipment underwater hydrophones to record acoustic information emitted by river turtles.

After analyzing the recording the team assured that these could be grouped in six different types of communications -each group representing and communicating a specific behavior.

"The [exact] meanings aren't clear... but we think they're exchanging information. We think sound helps the animals to synchronize their activities in the nesting season," Dr Camila Ferrara, of the WCS Brazil programme, told BBC News:

Science proves that it is not just river turtles which make use of acoustic communication for specific issues. Acoustic as well as chemical and bioluminescent trails are used by a wide range of marine life forms.

OCEANA reported on July that infant sea turtles were also found to make noise to coordinate hatchings. “A new study adds to a growing body of literature that finds that baby sea turtles can in fact make noise—and this communication is key to a successful hatching process,” OCEANA assures. The study was published in Chelonian Conservation and Biology. Researchers examined leatherback sea turtle nests, and found that the hatchlings and embryos made multiple noises and sounds—indicating they’re communicating with each other in the days before they hatch.

Overall over 300 sounds were registered and recorded as well as classified in four unique sound types; chirps, grunts, and two “complex hybrid tones,” according to the Smithsonian.

Wild Whales highlights the importance of acoustic communications in other marine creatures such as whales, humpbacks, sharks, killer whales, fish and many others.

OCEANA stressed that the “nest boil” acoustic communication is important for coordinating group behavior, evolution and survival and key to their hatching process. The international team of researchers studied 12 leatherback sea turtle nests on Barra de la Cruz Beach, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Brazil through TAMAR IBAMA Ministry of Environment Institute –the internationally recognized marine turtle conservation program, with bases stretching over 1.1 thousand kilometers of coastline has the opportunity to advance in marine turtle acoustic importance and value.

Researchers of the Amazon basin river turtle communication project say that “this is the first record of parental care in turtles. It shows they could be vulnerable to the effects of noise pollution”.

The Paper “Sound, chemical, and light detection in sea turtles and pelagic fishes: sensory-based approaches to bycatch reduction in longline fisheries” published by the University of Hawaii with the collaboration of NOAA takes the issue up a notch.

“Consideration of sea turtle behavior and the nature of interactions between sea turtles and fishing gear may lead to innovative solutions,” the paper states. Acoustic, biochemical and light devices could be utilized for fishery purpose, ecology, studies and conservation the paper concludes.

Ocean Life News in Brief

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