Meet Emeline McMann-Chapman: A Dedicated Research Assistant for Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles

Emeline McMann-Chapman is ⁣a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Organic Sciences and a minor in Environmental‌ Studies from California Polytechnic State University, ​San Luis Obispo. As a Research Assistant ⁤at Upwell, she plays a crucial role in collecting and analyzing stranding ⁣data for⁢ cold-stunned sea turtles on the⁣ Pacific coast. Emeline’s work involves documenting the temporal and spatial patterns of cold-stunning events and compiling medical​ records of affected turtles to ⁢gain a better understanding⁣ of their underlying health conditions. She is also contributing‍ to the development of new guidelines for organizations involved in sea turtle rehabilitation on the US West Coast.

When most people ⁣think of sea ‍turtle habitat, they imagine ​pristine, warm waters that are perfect for swimming without a wetsuit. It’s hard‌ to believe that hard-shelled sea turtles, such as olive ridleys, loggerheads, and ‌green turtles, can survive in the⁤ rough, freezing waters of the eastern Pacific. But​ they can and do. These‌ turtles are cold-blooded, meaning they cannot produce their own body heat.

Hard-shelled sea turtles migrate north along the west coast of North America, following‌ warm⁣ water currents to⁢ forage. They are usually able to ⁤swim ⁣back south⁢ when the​ water starts to get too cold. However, some turtles are not so lucky. Those that cannot reach warmer waters experience hypothermia and are ⁢referred to as ‌’cold-stunned’ because they​ are often unable to move due to the loss of body heat. When cold-stunned​ turtles wash up on beaches, it ‍is known as ⁣a stranding event. Sea turtles have been found on the Pacific coast as far north as Canada.

Only a small⁤ number of sea turtles are affected by cold-stunning each ⁣year on the Pacific coast of North America. Currently, there are no established ​patterns or predictors for when these events will occur. Rehabilitating these cold-stunned turtles is challenging because we have limited knowledge about ‌their underlying health conditions. To address this issue, Upwell launched an initiative to connect organizations‍ within the NOAA West​ Coast Stranding Network and gather data for a ​region-wide study on the health status of cold-stunned sea turtles along our coast. Leading this collaborative research⁣ project is Upwell Veterinarian ​Dr. Heather Harris, with funding support from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network.

During my final year of undergraduate studies at California Polytechnic State University, Dr. Harris, who also serves as a faculty member, reached out to me. Before I knew it, this extensive cold-stunning research became my senior project ⁣and eventually my first job after graduation. I delved into the medical​ records of over fifty turtles, sorting through ​thousands of pages ⁢of typed and handwritten data that documented the stories ⁤of these ‘turtle popsicles’.

Uncovering the Demographics of Pacific Cold-Stunned Turtles

My initial analysis of the demographics ‍of Pacific cold-stunned turtles revealed that there is little predictability or regularity to these events on the⁤ Pacific ‌coast.‍ The most unfortunate finding was that only a quarter of cold-stunned sea turtles on the Pacific coast survive to‌ be released back into the ocean. This number is⁣ significantly lower ⁤than the release rate on the east coast, so ⁤our next task was to determine what other‍ factors may ⁣be contributing to the low survival rate.

Exploring the Underlying Health Conditions of Cold-Stunned Turtles

To understand why an organism did not survive, ‌it is essential to examine its internal health. Therefore, we needed to ​gather as much information as possible about these turtles, particularly their necropsy reports. A necropsy, also known as an animal autopsy,‍ involves a thorough examination of a‌ deceased specimen to identify any⁣ significant findings that may have led to its​ death. Two of our study collaborators, the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute, informed us ‍that they had seven frozen sea turtle specimens ready to be necropsied. This raised the ​question of how⁣ we were going to transport frozen sea turtles from Oregon ‌to California and where we⁢ would take them.

Thankfully, Turtle Flyers from the organization Turtles ⁤Fly Too played a crucial role in this process. These pilots are usually involved in flying live turtles in need of transport and have played a significant ‌role in saving sea turtles during mass cold-stunning events on ⁣the East coast by bringing ⁤them to facilities near warmer waters for rehabilitation and eventual release. We were grateful for their willingness to fly our unconventional passengers.