A METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING SEA LEVEL RISE EFFECTS ON A MARINE TURTLE NESTING BEACH....

Climate change poses a serious threat to sea turtle species that are already vulnerable. The implications of climate change on currently underdeveloped and unstudied sea turtle nesting rookeries, such as sea level rise and increased storm intensity and frequency, are unknown. Mayto Beach in Jalisco, Mexico, is one of these rookeries, and the goal of this study was to give data that would help beach management understand the possible implications of climate change on this beach. To quantify changes in beach slope, we measured slope profiles on a section of Mayto Beach at various time intervals between 2014 and 2015. Starting from permanent landmarks at the vegetation limit and going perpendicular to the low tide line, six transects were made about 50 metres apart, with slope angles taken every 5 metres. The research area lost nearly 21% of its size and experienced substantial variations in slope over the year (t=2.72, P=.04). As a result, the beach became steeper and thinner. Because of the monthly tidal flux, daily and weekly sampling time steps produced different results than annual observations. It is suggested that the study area be expanded to include more transects along the 12 km shoreline and that slopes be profiled every three months. Construction setback laws are essential, as well as community support to enforce them. This research gives a baseline beach profile as well as natural erosion and accretion rates, which will aid sea turtle conservationists and beach managers in planning ahead of time to safeguard nesting habitat from the effects of sea level rise before coastal development takes place. Furthermore, the procedures used here are low-cost, straightforward, and easily replicated everywhere on the planet.

Please see the link :- https://www.ikprress.org/index.php/JOGEE/article/view/1025