Characterization of attack events on sea turtles (chelonia mydas and lepidochelys olivacea) by jaguar (panthera onca) in naranjo sector, santa rosa national park, Costa Rica

Abstract

In this study, we examined sea turtles consumption by jaguars and their temporal and spatial distribution at Naranjo beach, Santa Rosa National Park Costa Rica. We include information about sea turtle consumption rate by jaguars and whether this represents a threat to the population on the study area. We monitor jaguar predatory behavior on the sea turtles Lepidochelys olivacea and Chelonia mydas between August 2012 and September 2013. We located predation events and measured all turtles preyed carapace width (ACC) and length (LCC). Mean ACC of killed turtles was lower than the ACC population mean. Killed turtles LCC mean and population mean were the same. The beach was not used uniformly as sea turtle hunting area and it was shared by at least three jaguars. Jaguar hunting impact on sea turtle populations is very small in comparison to fishing by-catch. C. mydas and L. olivacea are important jaguar food source because they are easy to hunt and they have a high biomass. Sea turtles can be key preys when other prey availability is low and/or the period when female jaguars are feeding their cubs.