ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Abstracts Submission Guidelines and Instructions

CO-CHAIRS: Shaleyla Kelez and Eduardo Cuevas
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: DuBose Griffin
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 31 OCTOBER 2011
There is a limit of ONE oral abstract (two abstracts maximum) per lead author.

Registration fees must be paid before an abstract can be submitted.

Online Abstract Submission

All abstracts for oral or poster presentations must be submitted online. Deadline for submission of abstracts is 31 OCTOBER 2011. The descriptions of program sessions, as well as guidelines for composing and submitting abstracts to each session are listed below. Abstracts must be of high quality or they may be rejected by the Program Committee. Please note that the Program Committee puts a significant emphasis on the poster sessions during the Symposium.

In order to submit an abstract for presentation at the 32nd Annual Symposium you must follow the instructions provided herein. Instructions and guidelines for submission are available on this site, as well as a user-friendly interface for submitting abstracts.
Please note that upon submitting an abstract, you must choose the appropriate session for your abstract based on the session titles and descriptions provided below and label your submission accordingly. If your abstract does not fit into one of these sessions, please label it 'Other', and we will place it in the most appropriate session.

Information Required for Abstract Submission

1. Name of presenting author
2. Email of presenting author (an email contact is required)
3. Fax number of presenting author
4. Date this information was submitted (DD/MM/YY)
5. Title of presentation (ALL IN UPPERCASE)
6. All authors of the presentation in the order you want them to appear in the program. Place each author's name on a separate line.
7. Author(s) affiliation(s) in the same order as above. Please clarify any multiple affiliations
8. Abstract describing your presentation (500 words maximum). The abstracts must be submitted in English.
9. The session to which you are submitting your presentation. You must choose the most appropriate session based on the descriptions below. If it does not fit under any of the sessions, please label it as 'Other' and we will place it in the most appropriate session. See abstract category descriptions below.
10. Specify the type of presentation you wish to make. Your choices are: prefer oral, prefer poster, no preference, or video/film.
11. Equipment needed. Your choices are: slide projector, computer projector with MS Power Point (Mac System), computer projector with MS Power Point (PC System), video/DVD player, or other (please give details).
12. Indicate whether you are a student and whether you would like to be considered for the Archie Carr Student Paper Awards (given to both oral and poster presentations of merit). Recently graduated presenters who are presenting work done as students will qualify for these awards.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ALL ABSTRACTS IS 31 OCTOBER 2011.
ABSTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE.

ABSTRACTS SUBMITTED BY MAIL WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ABSTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH.

 

Notice of Acceptance

Final decisions on abstract acceptance will be made by the Program Committee. All first authors will be notified of the acceptance of their oral or poster by 15 DECEMBER 2011. If you need an acceptance letter sent to someone other than yourself, please specify this in your abstract submission.
Should your abstract be accepted for presentation as a poster, please review our suggested Poster Preparation Guidelines.

Proceedings

All submissions will be limited to 500 words (without graphics and/or tables). Accepted versions of abstracts will appear as such in Proceedings, which will be made available after the Symposium.

Cancellations

If for some serious reason you need to cancel your presentation, please inform the Program Co-Chairs Dr Shaleyla Kelez (shaleyla.kelez@ecoceanica.org) and Dr Eduardo Cuevas (ecuevas@pronatura-ppy.org.mx), and the Program Coordinator DuBose Griffin (GriffinD@dnr.sc.gov) immediately.

Those who fail to present their papers or posters without cancelling in advance of the symposium will not be allowed to present in subsequent symposia.

Abstract Categories

The Program Committee, comprising of no less than 20 people, will lead us through the following thematic sessions:

There will also be three special sessions:

• MINISYMPOSIUM: THE SEA TURTLES OF MEXICO
• MITIGATION OF TURTLE INTERACTION WITH FISHING ACTIVITIES
• INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES

Full Session Descriptions

Thematic sessions

1. Anatomy, Physiology, and Health This session includes research on all aspects of sea turtle form and function, as well as the causes and consequences of individual and population-wide health problems and how these relate to the environment. Includes studies and reports on anatomy, physiology, reproductive biology, embryonic development, thermoregulation, osmoregulation, functional morphology, diseases, veterinary care, rehabilitation, epibionts, parasites, health assessment, embryology, and pathology. Priority for oral presentations will be given to those studies demonstrating clear scientific methodology, presenting innovative approaches, methods, technology, and/or analysis, and those yielding novel findings.
2. Behavior and movements This session includes research related to sea turtle behavior. Presentations may be inclusive of all life stages, foraging and developmental habitats, migratory pathways, and nesting beaches. Behavior may include movements of individuals as measured by direct observation, data logging, telemetry, and identification marking. Studies may include field or laboratory study of hatchling behavior, orientation and navigation, migratory movements of breeding adults, movements of juveniles and sub-adults, ontogenetic movements, diving behavior, swimming mechanisms, feeding behavior, effects of environmental conditions on behavior, and behavioral biogeography. Priority for oral presentations will be given to studies showing a clear scientific-method approach, and those presenting innovations in their approach, methods, technology and/or analysis.
3. In-water biology and monitoring Sea turtles spend the majority of their lives in marine habitats, utilizing a series of developmental areas and foraging grounds throughout their life history. In light of this, this session will broadly cover topics related to sea turtle at-sea biology. This session includes research on juveniles, sub-adults or adult sea turtles at their in-water habitats, particularly in developmental habitats and foraging areas. The intended topics for this session may include sightings, surveys and monitoring of turtles at sea, conservation status evaluations, structure and dynamics of populations, metapopulations and subpopulations, monitoring and analysis of feeding behavior and diet composition, as well as characterization and assessments of the health and quality of turtle habitats. Papers in this session should focus on research designed to understand the role sea turtles play in these diverse habitats and the implications of habitat condition on the health and sustainability of the sea turtle aggregations using them. Information on new or short-term monitoring efforts on developmental areas is welcome. Priority for oral presentations will be given to those works developed under a scientific method approach, and those presenting innovative work.
4. Nesting biology and monitoring This session will be devoted to studies on nesting beaches with either nesting females, nests or hatchlings. The session will include assessment of nesting population size, modeling of population parameters, long-term monitoring, time series, forecasting population change, nesting ecology, hatching/emergence success and hatchling production, beach-based monitoring new methodologies and techniques, new nesting areas. Preference for orals will be given to research with specific high-impact results in the study and conservation of nesting females and their nesting beaches. Reports of nesting activity for short term periods (<10 years) may be included in the poster session. Priority for oral presentations will be given to those studies showing a clear scientific method approach, and those presenting innovations in their approaches, methods, technology and/or analysis.
5. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology The studies included in this session will provide descriptions and evaluations of processes and relationships arising between sea turtle individuals and populations and the environment in which they develop throughout their life cycle. This session also includes research on evolution and molecular studies of populations. These topics include research on sea turtles and their response to biotic and abiotic environmental conditions, intra-and inter-species relationships, development and success of sea turtle individuals in various life stages, ecological roles of species and populations in specific environments, population genetics, phylogeographic patterns and evolutionary processes of species. Priority for oral presentations will be given to those studies showing a clear scientific method approach, and those presenting innovations in their approaches, methods, technology and/or analysis.
6. Conservation, Management and Policy This session will highlight the growing body of work on management, economic and legal aspects of marine turtles and their conservation. This session will cover studies that address issues of legislative support and enforcement, policies and programs that safeguard sea turtles and their habitats, management issues related to sea turtle monitoring and conservation. Similarly, this session will also include reports on initiatives and international agreements, its implementation, results and impact. Preference for oral presentations will be given to papers that present new data and discussion; novel approaches to sea turtle conservation, management, and public policy; papers from areas of the world previously under-reported; papers that include robust evaluation of implementation, methodology and policy; and papers that describe the pathways towards the use and application of new tools in management initiatives that resulted in successful conservation outcomes.
7. Social Sciences, Environmental Education and Outreach This session includes presentations on research projects, and other types of interventions and initiatives related to the conservation of sea turtle and their habitats. Potential topics include: social science research; discussions of cultural considerations related to conservation and management; examinations of conflicts and conflict resolutions; studies of information and/or technology transfer from/to local peoples and other experts; analysis of extension and education work related to conservation and education. Given the research emphasis of this symposium, oral presentations will be given to authors who provide clear indications of social science, scientific or other recognized methodologies, theories, and approaches in their abstracts. Nonetheless, due to a limited number of oral presentation slots, this option will not be given to ALL submitted abstracts who meet these criteria. Authors should also indicate forms of data to be presented, and highlight innovative approaches, methods, analysis, and results, with respect to 'Social Sciences, Environmental Education, and Outreach'.
8. Threats This session focuses on the evaluation of natural and anthropogenic threats that degrade the condition of critical sea turtle habitats or increase the risk of mortality and major population declines of sea turtles on any scale. Topics in this session include: fisheries bycatch, characterization of fishing gear and fishing effort, directed take, strandings due to several factors (including cold-stunning), degradation of nesting and feeding habitats, oil exploration/spills, adverse impacts of climate change, and urban development in coastal areas, among others. Papers in this session will include evaluation of the impacts of specific threats, sea turtle responses to threats and measures to reduce the impacts of threats on sea turtle populations. Priority for oral presentations will be given to those studies showing a clear scientific method approach, and those presenting innovations in their approaches, methods, technology and/or analysis.

Special sessions

1. Mini Symposium "Sea Turtles of Mexico" Special session dedicated to sea turtle research and conservation in Mexico. It is the forum for stakeholders in the conservation of sea turtles in Mexico to exchange experiences, update on progress in nesting and population trends in the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Mexico, share conservation achievements as well as establish work strategic alliances.
2. Mitigation of Turtle interaction with fishing activities Session dedicated to studies on the progress in the settlement and mitigation of conflict between fisheries and conservation of marine turtles and their habitats. It will include initiatives formally structured with an inclusive approach of this conflict's main actors and that bring proposals for solutions and mitigation of the problem. Works that are purely descriptive reports and evaluation of bycatch capture and mortality should be submitted to the Threats session. Priority for oral presentations will be given to those studies showing a clear scientific method approach, and those presenting innovations in their approaches, methods, technology and/or analysis.
3. Innovative Tools and Strategies Human ingenuity is an extremely powerful tool and this session will highlight experiences related to the use of unusual or unconventional methods and technologies to conduct research or implement management and conservation strategies for sea turtles and their habitats. The session will include initiatives and tools that are inventive, adaptive, and/or experimental (methodological and technological) that were not designed expressly for use in sea turtle conservation. However, depending on specific needs, the principles with which these tools work may be adapted for solving problems directly or indirectly related to sea turtles and their habitats. We will also highlight sea turtle methods that have had an impact on biology and conservation. Experiences shared will detail both successful and unsuccessful attempts to use these methods in the hopes of stimulating others to come up with creative ideas for developing methods for use in evaluating and conserving various sea turtle populations around the world.