Hawksbill Turtle Survival and Breeding Probabilities from Varanus Island, 1987-2007

20 years of capture-mark-recapture data from 413 nesting hawksbill turtles on Varanus Island, Western Australia, collected by researchers between 1987 and 2007. The dataset provides estimates for annual survival and state-dependent breeding probabilities, accounting for reproductive omission. This research was highlighted by Parks Australia to inform conservation efforts for this critically endangered species.

Use Cases

• Modeling population viability based on estimated annual survival probability of 0.947.
• Analyzing breeding season omission patterns based on time-specific conditional nesting probabilities.
• Calibrating demographic models for hawksbill turtles using state-dependent breeding probabilities.
• Studying the impact of environmental factors on reproductive cycles based on described physiological constraints.

Strengths

• Data spans 20 austral summer nesting seasons from 1987 to 2007.
• Analysis is based on capture-mark-recapture histories for 413 individual nesting turtles.
• Statistical modeling accounts for complex behaviors like skipped breeding and staggered arrival.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Freshness should be verified; last metadata update was 2026-07-15.

Provenance

Source

Parks Australia (referencing original source publication).

Collection Method

Capture-mark-recapture (CMR) study with multistate open robust design statistical modeling.

Time Range

1987 to 2007 (20 nesting seasons).

Freshness

2026-07-15 02:46:02.331692

Geography

Varanus Island, Western Australia.