Remote Monitoring of Temperature in Sea Turtle Nests Using IoT and LoRaWAN Technologies: A Case Study in the Caruara Reserve

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19180/2177-4560.v19n22025p253-269

Keywords:

iot, Environmental monitoring

Abstract

Sea turtles are extremely important for marine and coastal ecosystems, performing several ecological functions that help maintain environmental balance. The conservation of these animals is crucial due to the threats they face, especially from climate change. Incubation temperature is a determining factor for the sex of the hatchlings, which makes precise monitoring of nest temperature a fundamental tool for implementing effective management strategies. This study presents a remote temperature monitoring system for sea turtle nests, using IoT and LoRaWAN, implemented at the Caruara Reserve in partnership with the Tamar Project. The purpose was to validate the technology and obtain continuous thermal data. The system monitored one nest for 38 days non-invasively, transmitting and recording data in real-time. The results indicate the system's effectiveness. Temperatures ranged from 30.5°C to 34.0°C, with a low daily amplitude (average of 0.8°C). These values, falling within ranges often associated with feminization in several sea turtle species, suggest a high potential for female-biased clutches, highlighting the importance of accurate data to inform adaptive management strategies.

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Author Biographies

  • Thiago Rodrigues Faria, Instituto Federal Fluminense
    Doutorando em Modelagem e Tecnologia para Meio Ambiente Aplicadas em Recursos Hídricos - Ambhidro pelo Instituto Federal Fluminense.
  • Vicente de Paulo Santos de Oliveira, Instituto Federal Fluminense
    Doutorado em Engenharia Agrícola pela Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Professor Titular no Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Fluminense.
  • Jader Lugon Junior, Instituto Federal Fluminense
    Doutor em Modelagem Computacional (UERJ).  Professor do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Fluminense - campus Macaé (RJ) – Brasil.
  • Thiago Moreira de Rezende Araújo , Instituto Federal Fluminense
    Doutorado em Ciências Naturais pela Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro. Professor no Instituto Federal Fluminense.
  • William da Silva Vianna, Instituto Federal Fluminense
    Doutorado em Engenharia e Ciência dos Materiais pela Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro. Professor no Instituto Federal Fluminense.

References

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Published

10-12-2025

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 2 (2025): Boletim do Observatório Ambiental - IFF

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Original articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Thiago Rodrigues Faria, Vicente de Paulo Santos de Oliveira, Jader Lugon Junior, Thiago Moreira de Rezende Araújo , Tatiane Bittar Vieira, William da Silva Vianna

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How to Cite

Remote Monitoring of Temperature in Sea Turtle Nests Using IoT and LoRaWAN Technologies: A Case Study in the Caruara Reserve. Boletim do Observatório Ambiental Alberto Ribeiro Lamego, [S. l.], v. 19, n. 2, p. 253–269, 2025. DOI: 10.19180/2177-4560.v19n22025p253-269. Disponível em: https://editoraessentia.iff.edu.br/index.php/boletim/article/view/23554.. Acesso em: 14 dec. 2025.

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