Distribution and growth rates of immature hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

A 31-year mark-recapture study of juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil, revealed critical insights into their growth rates and demographic parameters. Turtles exhibited site fidelity within the archipelago, with a median minimum residence time of 3.2 years and some individuals remaining for up to 14 years. Growth rates averaged 3.4 cm per year, decreasing monotonically with size, suggesting that turtles require approximately 14-18 years to reach minimum adult breeding size (~74 cm CCL). This long-term study provides essential data for the conservation of this endangered species, highlighting the importance of neritic foraging grounds in their life history.

Bellini, C., Santos, A., Patrício, A., Bortolon, L., Godley, B., Marcovaldi, M., Tilley, D., & Colman, L. (2019). Distribution and growth rates of immature hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Endangered Species Research, 40, 41–52. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00979