Lydia Ubry

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Rycyk, Athena

Second Advisor

Levell, Samantha

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies, Marine Biology

Abstract

The barrier islands of Sarasota County are one of the highest-density nesting areas for Caretta caretta (loggerhead sea turtle) and Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle) in Florida and the greater Gulf of Mexico region. Additionally, these islands (Lido Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, and Manasota Key) are all highly developed with varying types of dominant structures on each key. This study aims to examine the different types of development on these islands over time (1974-2023) in conjunction with marine turtle nesting success rates. Findings include a higher number of nesting turtles overall, despite a great increase in development since the beginning of the study period. However, nesting success has slightly decreased over time. Contributions to this include most county parcels seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line being developed into residential and commercial structures. Subsequent factors of this development include artificial night lighting, shoreline hardening/armoring, and increasing rates of sand loss. Federal, state, and local regulations in recent years have made a positive impact on regulating development with marine turtle nesting habitat protection in mind, which is shown in the large increase in overall nesting in the last two decades. However, anthropogenic threats remain highly present for sea turtles, and their protection on the beach is largely in the hands of individuals and regional agencies that can educate others on the issues that threaten their habitat and work towards localized solutions to false crawl and disorientation events.

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