Saving endangered hawksbill turtles: Insights from the SCELSE team

Having shared their DNA study of hawksbill turtles with FM89.3 in a 10-minute podcast, we dive into this critical research led by SCELSE Principal Investigator (PI) and NTU Assistant Prof Kim Hie Lim and PhD student Regine Tiong at SCELSE. Their work on the critically endangered hawksbill turtles uncovers genetic secrets that could aid in conservation efforts. In this blog, they answer key questions about their groundbreaking study.

1. What inspired your research on hawksbill turtles?

Asst Prof Kim: Hawksbill turtles play a vital role in maintaining healthy coral reefs, but their populations have declined by over 80% globally. Our research aims to uncover the genetic diversity within these populations, which is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.

Regine: Wildlife conservation has always been my passion while growing up due to my love for nature and animals. As an undergraduate, I took the opportunity to help out with turtle fieldwork in Northern Cyprus by the Society for the Protection Of Turtles (SPOT), where I got to witness the nestings of green and loggerhead turtles. My love of marine turtles grew and when I discovered that Singapore is home to nesting hawksbill turtles, I knew immediately that I wanted to study them. I’m very grateful to Prof Kim for taking up this project and allowing me to study the very animals I love.?

2. How does your research differ from previous studies?

Regine: Unlike earlier studies that relied on limited mitochondrial data, we are using data from whole genome sequencing. This provides a comprehensive view of the turtles' genetic makeup, allowing us to identify individual differences and understand their evolutionary history more precisely.

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3. What challenges do you face in studying hawksbill turtles? Any memorable moment during your fieldwork???????????????????????????

Asst Prof Kim: Studying these turtles is challenging because they migrate thousands of miles, making tracking difficult. Moreover, the nesting process and the 'lost years' of hatchlings in the open sea remain poorly understood. Our research aims to fill these gaps using DNA analysis.

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Regine: The hawksbill turtle is critically endangered globally due to various impacts like illegal wildlife trade and climate change. Their nestings are much lower than other species worldwide, and likewise in Singapore. Every year, we usually get samples from between 5 to 12 nests, after accounting for nests that were predated or eroded by the high tides. Working with such a small sample size can be difficult to fully understand the genetic diversity and demographic history of the population. Memorable moments are definitely witnessing the turtle hatchlings emerging from the nest. Another memorable moment was one time after releasing the turtle hatchlings on the beach and watching them make their way to the ocean, we saw two raptors swooping down to eat the hatchlings! It was a really shocking sight, but it is the circle of life. What could we do, right?

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4. How might your findings impact conservation efforts?

Regine: By mapping the genetic diversity and understanding the demographic history of hawksbill turtles, we can better identify populations at risk and prioritise conservation measures for these populations. This information is vital for wildlife law enforcement and global conservation initiatives.

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5. Congrats on getting your new grant to continue this research. What’s next for your research?

Asst Prof Kim: We plan to study the genetic diversity and structure of hawksbill and green turtle populations across Indo-Pacific area and the impact of environmental factors, like global warming, sea level rise, on the turtle populations. Understanding how these factors affect the turtles at genetic diversity will help us develop strategies to protect them in the long term. We also want to develop a program for early detection of turtle nests by capturing images by drone so that we can protect the nests early enough.

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6. What does success look like to you – both professionally and personally?

Regine: I hope that I can continue to study and work with marine turtles as a career and I personally hope that our research will make an impact on turtle conservation in Southeast Asia!

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7. How do you inspire your little daughter / young scientists interested in conservation biology?

Regine: Get out into our parks and beaches to learn more about our wildlife and nature! Look for opportunities to volunteer and ask lots of questions!