Status
Completed
Principle Investigator Contact Information
Name: Jeanette Wyneken
Address: Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Bora Raton FL 33431
Phone: +1 561-297-0146
Email: jwyneken@fau.edu
Description
Aerial baseline surveys to assess marine animal populations in the Straits of Florida, in particular sea turtles. Presence of energy conversion devices may create strike hazard, and populations need to be understood to quantify this.
Funding Source
State of Florida, US Department of Energy
Location of Research
Offshore Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade counties Florida
Project Aims
Quantify sea turtle density and abundance adjacent to shore.
Study Progress
This research is complete.
Key Findings
- Verified that sea turtle seasonal abundance offshore occurred west of the prime core of the Gulf Stream.
- Verifying sea turtle location using met-ocean data (Temperature, Bathymetry, and Current Flow) provided insufficient correlation for a strong conclusion.