Below is a list of research ideas for consideration by those who may apply for funding from Florida's marine turtle license plate grants program. This list was compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's marine turtle recovery program. These topics were selected because they are appropriate in scope for the grants program and identify some of the current gaps in our knowledge of sea turtles or of how environmental modifications may affect sea turtles. This information is needed when making decisions regarding the management of sea turtle populations in Florida.

Shoreline stabilization history. A historical summary of shoreline stabilization efforts (including armoring, nourishment, etc.) on sea turtle nesting beaches would be useful. Results of such an effort would include a detailed (i.e. beach-level) written history as well as a searchable database which could be periodically updated.

Fibropapilloma tumor re-growth during rehabilitation. If a turtle experiences re-growth of fibropapilloma tumors following removal, when is it most likely to occur (6 months after removal, 12 months after removal)? Is there a seasonality associated with FP tumor re-growth? Does the presence of ledges or other "hiding spots" decrease FP tumor re-growth?

Description of Florida-based fisheries from the perspective of sea turtle interactions. What fisheries are using what gear in what way and how might the activities of these fisheries affect sea turtle mortality, reproduction, and trophic relationships? This study might include analysis of catch statistics, observer programs, lost-gear assessments, or interviews of fishers and gear merchants.   

Analysis of the economic value of Florida sea turtles. How are Florida's sea turtles perceived by the public in terms of use and non-use values? What level of sea turtle abundance and access to sea turtles do Florida citizens want? What are the public's attitudes and motives regarding sea turtle conservation? This study might include contingent valuation and other economic measures as well as more direct measures of human behavior such as attendance of sea turtle walks, lectures, and assessments of sea turtle representations in the marketplace (such as to promote tourism).

Energetic cost of disorientation. What is the energetic cost of disorientation to hatchlings that eventually make it to the water?  Hatchlings have a finite amount of internalized yolk to fuel their swim offshore where they can begin to forage.  How much of a drain is there on this limited fuel supply for hatchlings that end up crawling 10, 20, 30, or 100's of meters farther than necessary because of initial disorientation?  

Energetic cost of non-nesting emergences. What is the energetic cost of non-nesting emergences to adult female sea turtles?  These non-nesting emergences may range from turning back after only reaching the swash zone to abandoning a nest cavity and body pit. How much do non-nesting emergences cost metabolically and how do they affect the reproductive effort of a female in a given nesting season or in future years?   

Repeated nest-site abandonment. How does repeated nest-site abandonment affect nest-site choice and egg survivorship?    

Effects of geotextile tubes. What are the effects of geotextile tubes (very large sandbags that are buried in the beach to inhibit erosion) on nesting sea turtles, incubating eggs, and emerging hatchlings? What are the effects of geotextile tubes on the physical characteristics of sand that is over them? What are the effects of geotextile tubes on sea turtle nesting beach profiles and do any differences in profiles correlate with differences in the rate of nest abandonment, the elevation of nests, and egg survivorship following erosion events?

Value of pocket beaches. What is the value of pocket beaches (relatively small beaches with armored beachfront on each side)?  How much nesting occurs on pocket beaches?

Maturity status of Florida sea turtles. There is little or no data from Florida on the range of sizes of the various species of sea turtles (of both genders) during pubescence and after maturity. Several hundred Florida sea turtles of various species and life stages are necropsied each year and their gonads could be collected to determine maturity status.  

Intra-seasonal clutch frequency. Past determinations of the intraseasonal clutch frequency of loggerheads, green turtles, and leatherbacks have been made by attempting to intercept female turtles every time they nest. However, unknown numbers of nesting emergences are missed and these clutch determinations are estimates. Do clutch frequency determinations made using other methodologies, such as GPS-enabled satellite tracking, agree with the past estimates?

Effects of vehicular traffic on the beach ecosystem in Florida. Research is needed to examine the effects of vehicular traffic on the beach ecosystem in Florida, with particular attention to the impacts on sea turtles, shorebirds and vegetation.

Legal clarification of beach access rights. Permit holders conducting nesting beach surveys in some areas of the state are impeded by private property owners who attempt to block access to the beach, even below the mean high water line. Legal clarification of the rights of the public to traverse Florida beaches is needed, as is a public education initiative.

Distribution and relative abundance of sea turtles in Florida's Gulf waters. How are loggerheads and other sea turtles using the offshore waters within the triangle formed by Cape Romano, Cape Sabal, and the Dry Tortugas? There are indications that this region of the Gulf of Mexico is important for adult loggerheads and a hotspot for red-tide blooms. Continued research in the Big Bend area is also a priority.

Opaque screens. How can opaque "screens" be used to block lights from emerging and crawling hatchlings and in what situations might such screens be an effective option?    

Beach cleaning. How does beach cleaning alter a beach and how does or how may this affect nesting sea turtles, incubating eggs, or emerging hatchlings? 

Freshwater outflows onto nesting beaches. What types of freshwater outflows onto sea turtle nesting beaches are there in Florida and what are their effects on nesting sea turtles, incubating eggs, or emerging hatchlings?