Identifying key foraging areas of sea turtles can help in protecting their natural habitat. However, collecting feces from a 120 kilogram (about 265 pounds) sea turtle is not easy, especially if it's in the open sea. Most feces would dissolve rapidly in the sea. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australian found an ingenious solution.
Owen Coffee, a doctoral student from the University of Queensland, figured turtle swimsuits could help scientists collect feces from sea turtles. These wetsuits would act as 'harness' or 'giant nappies' for the reptiles.
The customized swimsuits were made from second-hand rash guards from a charity shop. After a series of modifications, the detachable swimsuits were kept in place using Velcro. The customized swimsuit has the removable fecal collector and they fit perfectly.
Dr. David Booth used a smaller version of the turtle suit in his research involving turtle hatchlings early in 2015. Coffee adjusted the original design to suit his research purpose which focuses on sea turtles' diet.
"Basically, it's a full-size second hand rash vest adapted to sit on the shell of the turtle with a small opening with the tail and the nappy to attach to collect the feces," said Coffee.
Coffee has partnered with researcher Carmen da Silva in the study. The tandem dressed up six loggerhead sea turtles with the swimsuit and placed them in sea water tanks. These captured reptiles remained at the University's Moreton Bay Research Station long enough for them to defecate.
After collecting the feces from the six loggerhead sea turtles, they were undressed and returned to Moreton Bay. While the study is still in its early stages, Coffee explained that in the initial six turtles kept, the feces showed the reptiles fed on three food types.
Coffee and his team plan to use the customized swimsuits on more turtles at Mon Repos and Heron Island to expand their research. Data collected from nesting female's skin and blood can help identify key foraging areas.
Not all foraging areas are the same. Some are suitable in reproduction while some are not. Identifying and protecting the key reproduction foraging areas is crucial in protecting the species.
