National Marine Fisheries Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service (2008) Recovery plan for the northwest Atlantic population of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Second Revision. Silver Spring: National Marine Fisheries Service.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Effect of localized oil spills on Atlantic loggerhead population dynamics

  AUTHORS: Margaret-Rose Leung, Melissa Marchand, Samantha Stykel, My Huynh, José D. Flores

  KEYWORDS: Loggerhead Sea Turtle; Oils Spill; Matrix Model; Simulations; Population Ecology

  JOURNAL NAME: Open Journal of Ecology, Vol.2 No.3, August 10, 2012

  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to analyze the population dynamics of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) affected by localized oil spills. Methods include development of a spatial, stage-classified matrix model parameterized for the following primary loggerhead populations: Gulf of Mexico, western North Atlantic Ocean, and Florida peninsula. Oil spills are simulated deterministically in each population's nesting region, with 1) oil-induced mortality ranging from 25% to 100% and 2) stage classes affected either proportionally or equally. A transient sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the parameters most influential to the population growth rate. Results suggest that increased protection and understanding of young sea turtles found in the Sargasso Sea is essential to the survival of the species. In addition, findings provide insights into the population dynamics of the At- lantic loggerhead turtles and identify conservation measures appropriate in each oil spill case.