Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Natural Resources Management and Geo-informatics, Khallikote University, Berhampur, Odisha 768003, India; Berhampur University, Berhampur, Odisha 760007, India
  • 2 School of Sustainability, XIM University, Odisha 752050, India
  • 3 Department of Natural Resources Management and Geo-informatics, Khallikote University, Berhampur, Odisha 768003, India
  • 4 Department of Geography, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong 793022, India
  • 5 Federal University of Paraíba, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil. Electronic address: celso@ct.ufpb.br
  • 6 Federal University of Paraíba, Department of Geosciences, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
  • 7 Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Centre for Environment and Sustainability, Presidency Education, 51 Panchlaish, Chittagong 4203, Bangladesh
  • 8 Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Mar Pollut Bull, 2021 Nov;172:112881.
PMID: 34454383 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112881

Abstract

In this study, we have analyzed how geo-ecological cues for endangered Olive Ridley turtles' mass nesting behavior got modified by impact of four severe cyclones during 2010-2019 that made landfall in the vicinity of Rushikulya estuary, which is one of the largest mass nesting congregation (arribada) sites in the world. Analyzing last 10 years of shoreline dynamics, we show that even the slightest modification in beach morphology influenced their nesting behavior in Rushikulya rookery. Shoreline change analysis showed periodic phases of high/low erosion and the northward longshore sediment movement, which becomes impeded by the southern spit, the length of which increased by about 1800 m. During the analyzed period, the nesting behavior of Olive Ridley turtle was greatly influenced by changes in land use and land cover pattern around the Rushikulya rookery. Such reductions in tree cover and marshy land areas were majorly driven by anthropogenic activities and extreme weather events, such as cyclones. We also report increased mortality of turtles, no or false mass nesting events due to significant loss and/or erosion of the nesting sites due to cyclones. The results indicate that conservation of Olive Ridley turtles should be more holistic, or ecosystem centric, rather than species centric. It is important to maintain the ecological integrity of their habitat for highly synchronized mass nesting event and eventually their survival.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.