Sargassum Podcast Episode 15 : Impact of Sargassum on remote turtle habitats with Brigitte Gavio

In this episode we talk to Brigitte Gavio who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. She leads the Research Group in Molecular Systematics and Biogeography of Marine Macroalgae and her research focuses on taxonomy and biogeography of marine algae.

Listen to the episode to hear about:

- The importance of Sargassum for sea turtles (7:00)

- Currently only the San Andres Archipelago receives Sargassum in larger quantities in Colombia, however the Caribbean coast should still prepare in case they ever get beaching events (9:00)

- Her research trip to the very remote Cayo Serranilla where they found a large amount of turtles nesting (12:30)

- Sargassum arriving on Cayo Serranilla during their research trip (17:20)

- Impact of Sargassum and rats on nesting turtles and emerging hatchlings (18.30)

- Size of Cayo Serranilla and its rocky and sandy shore line (22:00)

- Rat removal on islands (23:00)

- Use of turtles of offshore Sargassum mats(28:00)

Learn more about Brigitte’s work:

֍ Brigitte’s professional website

֍ Molecular Systematics and Biogeography of Marine Macroalgae research group

֍Gavio and Santo- Martinez, 2018. Floating Sargassum in Serranilla Bank, Caribbean Colombia may jeopardize the race to the ocean of baby sea turtles