A University of Queensland biological researcher has led the Moreton Bay release of four turtles that suffered starvation and illness from the January floods.
Dr Kathy Townsend from 国产探花鈥檚 School of Biological Sciences usually investigates the impacts of marine debris on sea turtles, but for the better part of this year has found herself in turtle emergency care.
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Joining forces with Underwater World and Earthwatch Australia, Dr Townsend helped rehabilitate three Green turtles and a Loggerhead turtle that were found stranded and critically ill on North Stradbroke Island in August.
Dr Townsend said there had been an increase in sick turtles and marine life in Moreton Bay this year.
鈥淭he Moreton Bay area was heavily impacted by the floods, which caused massive sea grass die back caused by the high sediment load. This year, we鈥檝e had more animals stranded than in past years,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hree of the turtles we released came in starved and underweight, which is most likely related to the flooding, and not getting enough food and weakening over the winter season.
鈥淥ne of the turtles had swallowed marine debris, causing a gut impaction and making it 鈥榝loat鈥�. This means it can no longer dive for food, it has difficulties getting out of the way of boats and is more likely to be attacked by predators.鈥�
After retrieving the turtles stranded on North Stradbroke, Dr Townsend and her team at the Moreton Bay Research Station spent 72 hours rehydrating the animals, treating any wounds and removing parasites.
The animals were then transported to Australia Zoo for veterinarian treatment, followed by long-term rehabilitation at Underwater World.
However, the rescue operation has not diminished the importance of Dr Townsend鈥檚 research on marine debris and sea turtles at 国产探花鈥檚 Moreton Bay Research Station.
鈥淢oreton Bay is feeling the impact of discarded rubbish, with work done by my lab indicating that the cause of death of over 30 percent of stranded sea turtles studied was due to the ingestion of marine debris, with an additional six percent due to entanglement,鈥� she said.
鈥淭his is of great concern as Moreton Bay is an important feeding ground for these endangered species, with the population estimated at over 20 000 individuals, a surprisingly large number considering it is on the door step of Australia鈥檚 fastest growing city.
鈥淥ur objective is to better understand the risks and impact that marine debris has on marine fauna, using endangered sea turtles as indicator species.鈥�
Dr Townsend鈥檚 research has attracted the support of a large network of local community groups, philanthropists and partners, including her key backers Earthwatch Australia and Goldring and Goodman Foundations.
For the past three years, the Earthwatch Australia has provided Dr Townsend with financial support as well as volunteers to help out with her research projects.
For more information on Dr Townsend鈥檚 research and the Moreton Bay Research Station please visit http://www.science.uq.edu.au/facilities/moretonbay
Media: Dr Kathy Townsend 3409 9058, kathy.townsend@uq.edu.au or Caroline Bird 3365 1931, c.bird1@uq.edu.au
