Conservation of marine  mega-fauna in a changing world
To date, management and conservation of marine mega-fauna has focused almost entirely on non-climatic stressors, and on static spatial planning which reflects present environmental conditions, species ranges, and threatening processes. Thus, our goal is to provide ecological and biological data at the appropriate temporal and spatial scale to improve the management of marine mega-fauna in a changing environment. Topics of interest include: 

  • Novel approaches to predict impacts of climate change on sea turtles.
  • The  relationship between sea turtle nesting distribution and environmental variables and how these may change in the future
  • Adaptive capacity of marine mega-fauna to climate change.
  • Decisions and changes that can be made now to maximize the chances of successfully achieving conservation goals for marine mega-fauna across a range of potential future scenarios.
Specific projects:
  • Vulnerability of the northern Great Barrier Reef green turtle population  to climate change
  • An integrated approach to assess the impacts of climate change on marine turtles in Brazil 
  • Adaptive capacity of marine turtles to climate change

Publications:
  • Fuentes MMPB, Delean S, Grayson J, Lavender S, Logan M, Marsh H. (2016) Spatial and temporal variation in the effects of climatic variables on dugong calf production. PlosOne 11(6): e0155675. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155675
  • Fuentes MMPB, Chambers LE, Chin A, Dann P, Dobbs K, Poloczanska E, Maison K, Turner M, Pressey RL, Marsh H (2014) Adaptive management of marine mega-fauna in a changing climate. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 21, 209- 224.
  • Marcovaldi MA, López-Mendilaharsu M, Santos AS, Gustave GL, Godfrey M, Tognin F, Baptistotte C, Thome JC, Dias ACC, Castilhos JC, & Fuentes MMPB. (2016) Identification of loggerhead male producing beaches in the south Atlantic: Implications for conservation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 477, 14-22. doi:0.1016/j.jembe.2016.01.001
  • Jourdan J, Fuentes MMPB (2015) Effectiveness of strategies to mitigate the impacts of projected changes in temperature on sea turtle reproductive output. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change. 20, 121- 133.
  • Cinner JE, Pratchett MS, Graham NAJ, Messmer V , Fuentes MMPB, Ainsworth T,  Ban NC,  et al. (2015) A framework for understanding climate change impacts on coral reef social-ecological systems. Regional Environmental Change. DOI 10.1007/s10113-015-0832-z , 1:14.
  • Marcovaldi MAG, Santos AJB, Santos AS, Soares LS, Lopez GG, Godfrey MH,  López-Mendilaharsu M, Fuentes MMPB (2014) Spatio-temporal variation in the incubation duration and sex ratio of hawksbill hatchlings: implication for future management. Journal of Thermal Biology. 44, 70-77
  • Fuentes MMPB, Porter W (2013) Using a microclimate model to evaluate impacts of climate change on sea turtles. Ecological Modelling, 251: 150-157. 
  • Fuentes MMPB, Fish M, Maynard J (2012) Management strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on sea turtle’s terrestrial reproductive phase. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 17, 51-63. 
  • Fuentes MMPB, Limpus CJ, Hamann M (2011) Vulnerability of sea turtle nesting grounds to climate change. Global Change Biology, 17, 140-153. 
  • Fuentes MMPB, Cinner JE (2010) Using expert opinion to prioritize impacts of climate change on sea turtles' nesting grounds. Journal of Environmental Management, 91, 2511-2518. 
  • Fuentes MMPB, Abbs D (2010) Effects of projected changes in tropical cyclone frequency on sea turtles. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 412, 283-292. 
  • Fuentes MMPB, Hamann M and Limpus CJ (2010) Past, current and future thermal profiles for green turtle nesting grounds: implications from climate change. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 383, 56-64. 
  • Fuentes MMPB, Limpus CJ, Hamann M, Dawson J (2010) Potential impacts of projected sea level rise to sea turtle rookeries. Aquatic conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 20, 132-139. (In top 10 cited articles published in 2010-2011). 
  • Fuentes MMPB, Dawson J, Smithers S, Limpus CJ, Hamann M (2010) Sedimentological characteristics of key sea turtle rookeries: potential implications under projected climate change. Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 6, 464- 473. 
  • Fuentes MMPB, Maynard JA, Guinea M, Bell IP, Werdell PJ, Hamann M (2009) Proxy indicators of sand temperature help project impacts of global warming on sea turtles. Endangered Species Research Journal 9, 33-40. 

Key collaborators: Mark Hamann, Colin Limpus, Warren Porter, Neca Marcovaldi

Funding: National Geographic, Ciencias sem Fronteiras, Padi Foundation, Australian Research Council, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Torres Strait Regional Authority, University of Florida.