Inwater Research Group Inc.
The Sea Turtle Directory
Country: United States (contiguous)
Organization / Project Name: Inwater Research Group- Jupiter Inlet Site
Website: www.inwater.org
Email: admin@inwater.org
Description: Jupiter Inlet is located 12 miles south of the Lake Worth inlet and is the point where the Loxahatchee River flows into the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach County, Florida. The inlet was expanded in 1922, and an easterly channel was created, cutting through the historic sand barrier. Similarly to LWL, growing concern over the health of Jupiter inlet also prompted Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (PBCDERM) to implement a habitat restoration and enhancement plan around the same time in the mid 1990’s, with the goals to restore and maintain ecosystem integrity and ensure support of the biological diversity of this area, including the abundance of sea turtles that utilize the inlet. This study site location being an inlet is particularly unique, as turtles are exposed to the environmental influences of the lagoon as well as from the Atlantic Ocean via daily tidal exchanges. Because of this, research on how these factors, such as freshwater runoff and turbidity levels, might influence water quality and resource availability in this habitat is critical for understanding how sea turtles may be affected. Over the 2022/2023 sampling period, IRG biologists found that green turtles captured at Jupiter inlet tended to be smaller in comparison to nearby LWL, and gathered assemblage data indicating that this inlet may mostly consist of individuals that have recently came in from offshore, pelagic habitats. Multiple recaptured turtles at this site also displays high residency for many of these juvenile green turtles. Future work here will involve more fine-scale tracking in order to monitor habitat usage within the inlet. Varying severity levels of FP on turtles sampled suggest that more long-term sampling will be needed to examine trends and further monitor water quality and habitat changes.
Species of focus: Loggerheads (Caretta caretta), Green turtles (Chelonia mydas)
Volunteer program: No
Tourist activities (Y/N): No
Primary Areas of Work: Toxin sampling, In water research, Genetic sampling
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/inwaterresearch
Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/inwaterresearch