Over the last four decades, threats from anthropogenic activities such as Bycatch, modification or destruction of critical habitats, and use or consumption of products from turtles along with inherent life history features of sea turtles have declined severely in population sizes. Recently, through modern research techniques, we have learned some important aspects of taxonomy, ecology and biology of these animals; those findings revealed the role of sea turtles in their ecosystems, migratory patterns, habitat use and the main population hotspots and conservation units. This book aims to address the current situation on sea turtle research, to provide an overview of the newest tools and techniques for research, but at the same time provide key elements on management of sea turtles and how they can be used for conservation purposes. Through the detailed description of each technique and case studies that this book contains, students, researchers and academics can properly raise their research questions and experimental designs, which consequently enable them to obtain results comparable to those reported in studies from journals of high impact.

After decades of research, monitoring, and analysis, we still have so much to learn about sea turtles. As reptiles, they are environmentally sensitive animals and thus can sense acute changes in their habitat. This rudimentary tactic of ectothermic animals has possibly conceded to the survival of sea turtle populations over millions of years. They have endured cooling and warming of the earth. The habitats they depend on have endured fierce hurricanes and erosion. Now the question remains if sea turtle populations and their habitats will survive the challenges and pressures that humans place on the world. The anthology of research presented in this textbook is diverse and yet so interconnected. We cannot work to conserve wildlife populations without a fundamental understanding of habitat or the range of changes that individuals within a population can tolerate. Sea turtles are no exception. Changes in migration patterns due to climate change, diversity of food sources between species, acute habitat selection for nesting, mutations in genetics, and differences in anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry between species and even individuals make the study of sea turtles dynamic and challenging.