Sea turtle nesting beach in the Indian Ocean

Dr Holly Stokes

Research Officer (Marine Conservation & Ecology Lab)

Biosciences

holly.stokes@swansea.ac.uk

Research Links

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

About

I am an early-career marine biologist specialising in marine ecosystems, with a focus on sea turtle behaviour, ecology, and conservation. My research aims to understand their ecological role and assess the effects of environmental changes. Currently, I’m a postdoctoral researcher assisting with undergraduate Marine Biology teaching. My experience includes research and teaching at Swansea University, working with Natural Resources Wales on marine monitoring projects and consultancy work in the Red Sea. I hold a BSc in Marine Biology, an MSc in Environmental Biology, and a PhD studying sea turtle ecology in the Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean.

Areas Of Expertise

Marine Biology
Tropical Marine Ecology
Conservation
Sea turtle ecology
Marine Protected Areas

Career Highlights

Research

My current research focusses on the ecology of sea turtles in the Indian Ocean, with an emphasis on green turtle nesting. This includes studying nest site selection, predation, and the influence of environmental factors on nest success. Further studies include abundance estimates and assessing the effects of satellite tagging on immature hawksbill turtles. The research utilises advanced tools like satellite tagging, drone surveys, and camera traps to gather both remote and on-site data.

Award Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

Stokes, K., Esteban, N., Casale, P., Chiaradia, A., Kaska, Y., Kato, A., Luschi, P., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Stokes, H., & Hays, G. (2024). Optimization of swim depth across diverse taxa during horizontal travel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(52)
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2413768121, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68090
Stokes, H., Stokes, K., Mortimer, J., Laloë, J., Esteban, N., & Hays, G. (2025). Assessing the impacts of satellite tagging on growth rates of immature hawksbill turtles. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 16(1), 160-169.
https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.14464, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68366
Stokes, H., Laloë, J., Esteban, N., & Hays, G. (2024). Empirical evidence for the extent of spatial and temporal thermal variation on sea turtle nesting beaches. Journal of Thermal Biology, 125, 103965
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103965, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67659
Serafini, G., Gordon, C., Amalfitano, J., Wings, O., Esteban, N., Stokes, H., & Giusberti, L. (2024). First evidence of marine turtle gastroliths in a fossil specimen: Paleobiological implications in comparison to modern analogues. PLOS ONE, 19(5), e0302889
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302889, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66526
Stokes, H., Esteban, N., & Hays, G. (2024). Nest site selection in sea turtles shows consistencies across the globe in the face of climate change. Animal Behaviour, 208, 59-68.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.12.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65154
Stokes, H., Esteban, N., & Hays, G. (2024). Predation of sea turtle eggs by rats and crabs. Marine Biology, 171(1)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04327-9, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64969
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04327-9
Stokes, K., Esteban, N., Stokes, H., & Hays, G. (2023). High dive efficiency in shallow water. Marine Biology, 170(4)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04179-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62593
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04179-3
Stokes, H., Mortimer, J., Laloë, J., Hays, G., & Esteban, N. (2023). Synergistic use of UAV surveys, satellite tracking data, and mark-recapture to estimate abundance of elusive species. Ecosphere, 14(3)
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4444, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62644
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4444
Bertelli, C., Stokes, H., Bull, J., & Unsworth, R. (2022). The use of habitat suitability modelling for seagrass: A review. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.997831, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61575
Esteban, N., Mortimer, J., Stokes, H., Laloë, J., Unsworth, R., & Hays, G. (2020). A global review of green turtle diet: sea surface temperature as a potential driver of omnivory levels. Marine Biology, 167(12)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-03786-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57106

All Research

Journal Articles

Stokes, H., Stokes, K., Mortimer, J., Laloë, J., Esteban, N., & Hays, G. (2025). Assessing the impacts of satellite tagging on growth rates of immature hawksbill turtles. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 16(1), 160-169.
https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.14464, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68366
Stokes, K., Esteban, N., Casale, P., Chiaradia, A., Kaska, Y., Kato, A., Luschi, P., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Stokes, H., & Hays, G. (2024). Optimization of swim depth across diverse taxa during horizontal travel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(52)
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2413768121, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68090
Stokes, H., Laloë, J., Esteban, N., & Hays, G. (2024). Empirical evidence for the extent of spatial and temporal thermal variation on sea turtle nesting beaches. Journal of Thermal Biology, 125, 103965
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103965, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67659
Serafini, G., Gordon, C., Amalfitano, J., Wings, O., Esteban, N., Stokes, H., & Giusberti, L. (2024). First evidence of marine turtle gastroliths in a fossil specimen: Paleobiological implications in comparison to modern analogues. PLOS ONE, 19(5), e0302889
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302889, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66526
Stokes, H., Esteban, N., & Hays, G. (2024). Nest site selection in sea turtles shows consistencies across the globe in the face of climate change. Animal Behaviour, 208, 59-68.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.12.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65154
Stokes, H., Esteban, N., & Hays, G. (2024). Predation of sea turtle eggs by rats and crabs. Marine Biology, 171(1)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04327-9, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64969
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04327-9
Stokes, K., Esteban, N., Stokes, H., & Hays, G. (2023). High dive efficiency in shallow water. Marine Biology, 170(4)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04179-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62593
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04179-3
Stokes, H., Mortimer, J., Laloë, J., Hays, G., & Esteban, N. (2023). Synergistic use of UAV surveys, satellite tracking data, and mark-recapture to estimate abundance of elusive species. Ecosphere, 14(3)
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4444, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62644
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4444
Bertelli, C., Stokes, H., Bull, J., & Unsworth, R. (2022). The use of habitat suitability modelling for seagrass: A review. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.997831, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61575
Esteban, N., Mortimer, J., Stokes, H., Laloë, J., Unsworth, R., & Hays, G. (2020). A global review of green turtle diet: sea surface temperature as a potential driver of omnivory levels. Marine Biology, 167(12)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-03786-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57106
Stokes, H., Stokes, H., Mortimer, J., Hays, G., Unsworth, R., Laloë, J., & Esteban, N. (2019). Green turtle diet is dominated by seagrass in the Western Indian Ocean except amongst gravid females. Marine Biology, 166(10)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3584-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52193

Taught Modules

BIO346 Professional Skills in Marine Biology

This module will introduce students to the professional techniques utilised to monitor and study marine life in a variety of marine and coastal habitats and in relation to conservation management and biodiversity monitoring in the United Kingdom. The course places a strong emphasis on marine ecological census techniques. Students will learn key skills relevant to the marine ecology sector including protected and economically-important species (especially marine mammals, fish, shellfish, coastal birds) and Phase 1 habitat surveys. Students will also learn about the biotic and abiotic factors that define different UK habitats and relevant regulations that protect them. The module provides an introduction to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and a range of impacts on the marine environment including energy generation and coastal development. Participants in this module will work in groups to discuss case study surveys and EIAs, including a presentation reporting findings from rapid ecological surveys for a case study EIA. The class will be responsible for collecting key survey data for a Preliminary Environmental Appraisal (PEA) Report in accordance with CIEEM for a proposed commercial development in Carmarthen Bay. During a field course, small groups will work as marine environmental consultancy companies responding to an Invitation to Tender with survey design, planning, cost estimation, data collection and analysis. A focus of the module is on developing key transferable skills that enhance employability such as survey design and planning, problem solving, data analysis, report writing, evaluation, communication and teamwork. This will be a residential field course.