Ecological correlates of the abundance of juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia Mydas) on nearshore reefs in southeast Florida

Juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) abundance differs among nearshore reefs,
but why some sites are preferred over others is unknown. My study had two objectives:
to quantify differences in abundance over time (one year) and to determine what
ecological factors were correlated with those differences. I conducted quarterly surveys
on reefs in Palm Beach and Broward Counties and compared reef sites with respect to (i)
water depth, (ii) algal abundance and composition, and (iii) changes in reef area (caused
by sand covering) through time (11 years). Turtles were most abundant on shallow reefs
exposed to high light levels that remained stable (uncovered by sand) for long periods of
time. These reefs had the highest diversity of algal species, in part because cropping by
the turtles prevented any one species from becoming dominant. My results suggest that
both physical and biological factors make some reefs more attractive to turtles than
others