Within the UAE the species uses sandy beaches for nesting. Whilst several of the nesting sites are within protected areas, they are often in near proximity to developed areas.No new nesting sites are likely due to extensive development.A four-year research project monitoring post-nesting Hawksbill turtles in the Gulf identified foraging habitats that were spread over vast areas but at the individual turtle level they typically ranged over only 40-60 km² with core areas of only 3-5 km² in size (Pilcher et al. 2014a). Based on the project ground-truthing surveys, the feeding areas were found to be limited to small reef mounds only a few 100s of metres across. In addition, the project revealed short-term migrations that were related to temporal climatic shifts during the summer months. The results indicate that Gulf Hawksbills employ thermoregulatory responses moving to northern and cooler areas during the summer. This type of behaviour is presumably taking them out of high temperature and potentially physiology-threatening conditions. Growth and reproduction are integrally linked to foraging ecology (Bjorndal 1997) and limitations to foraging or food availability can impact the productivity of individuals and populations. Similarly, exposure to temperatures which exceed normal tolerances can lead to a decrease in nutritional uptake and growth. Gulf turtles are amongst the smallest adult turtles worldwide, in comparison to Omani turtles which are an average of 10 cm larger in carapace length as nesting adults, suggesting that growth in Gulf turtles is nutrient-limited.Hawksbills mainly feed on corals, sponges and crustaceans. In the water, the species is reef-associated, and reefs are undergoing a continuing decline in extent and quality. In the western Arabian Gulf, the species was found using more fragmented feeding sites (and females were <10 cm shorter than females from Oman).Hawksbills in the UAE may nest up to six times in a season with an average of three nests per turtle (Pilcher et al. 2014a), with 2-3 nests per female noted locally, however, recent genetic analysis found lower numbers of nests per female, at least in Dubai and Sir Bu Nair (A. Natoli pers. comm. 2018). The distribution of foraging habitat in the Gulf region has been described by Pilcher et al. (2014a) based on satellite tracking of 90 post-nesting female Hawksbills from nesting sites in Iran, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. In this study most of the turtles tagged in Qatar, Iran and the UAE migrated to southern and southwestern waters in the Gulf shared by the UAE and Qatar. A smaller number of turtles migrated northward towards Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Turtles spent 68% of the time in foraging grounds with home ranges of 40-“60 km² and small core areas of 6 km² were found to be larger than those used by Omani turtles (core areas ~3 km²). In addition, adult female turtles from the Arabian Gulf were significantly smaller than Omani turtles (by ~11 cm CCL). Arabian Gulf turtles spend an average of 20% of time undertaking summer migration loops, a thermoregulatory response to avoid elevated sea surface temperatures, as the Arabian Gulf regularly experiences sustained sea surface temperatures of over 30 '°C (Pilcher et al. 2014b).Genetic analyses revealed differences in mating behaviour between Sir Bu Na'air, Dubai and Abu Dhabi nesting sites, with a high level of single paternity in Dubai and Abu Dhabi nests and high multiple paternity in Sir Bu Na'air nests. Across the time of the study (2008 -2010) no females were detected to nest in more than one nesting site and males rarely sired at different nesting sites, further supporting the presence of different breeding grounds in UAE (Natoli et al. 2017).In the Arabian region, Hawksbill turtles deposit multiple clutches and nest during the short summer seasons, typically between April/May and July (Pilcher et al. 2014a).Hawksbills nest on insular and mainland sandy beaches throughout the tropics and subtropics. Newly emerged hatchlings enter the sea and are carried by offshore currents into major gyre systems where they remain until reaching a carapace length of some 20 to 30 cm (Mortimer and Donnelly 2008). However, recent studies (Vargas et al. 2015, Natoli et al. 2017) have found the species to have more distinct sub-populations, including a clade restricted to the Gulf. One in the sea, they move into foraging habitat that may comprise coral reefs or other hard bottom habitats, seagrass, algal beds, or mangrove bays and creeks (Musick and Limpus 1997) or mud flats. As they increase in size, immature turtles typically inhabit a series of habitats, with some tendency for larger turtles to inhabit deeper sites (van Dam and Diez 1997, Bowen et al. 2007). Once sexually mature, they undertake breeding migrations between foraging grounds and breeding areas at intervals of several years (Witzell 1983, Dobbs et al. 1999). Global population genetic studies have demonstrated the tendency of female sea turtles to return to breed at their natal rookery (Bowen and Karl 1997), even though as juveniles they may have foraged at developmental habitats located hundreds or thousands of kilometres from the natal beach. While Hawksbills undertake long migrations, some portion of immature animals may settle into foraging habitats near their beaches of origin (Bowen et al. 2007). Generation Length (from Mortimer and Donnelly 2008)Generation length is defined here as the age to maturity plus one half the reproductive longevity (Pianka 1974). Hawksbills mature very slowly, taking 20 to 40 years, and so are long-lived (Chaloupka and Musick 1997). Age to maturity in the Indo-Pacific requires a minimum of 30-35 years (Limpus 1992, Limpus and Miller 2000, Mortimer et al. 2002, 2003).Data on reproductive longevity in Hawksbills are limited, but becoming available with increasing numbers of intensively monitored, long-term projects on protected beaches. During the last decade, numerous individual Caribbean Hawksbills have been recorded actively nesting over a period of 14-22 years (Parrish and Goodman 2006). In the Indo-Pacific Mortimer and Bresson (1999) and Limpus (1992) have reported nesting over 17-20 years, comparable to other Chelonid turtles which range from 20 to 30 years (Carr et al. 1978, FitzSimmons et al. 1995).Given estimated ages to maturity of 25 years in the Caribbean and 35 years in the Indo-Pacific, with half of reproductive longevity estimated at ten years, a conservative generation length of 35 years (25 + 10 years) is calculated for the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, and 45 years (35 + 10 years) in the Indo-Pacific. In analyzing the data, declines over three generations are therefore measured for up to 135 years in the Indo-Pacific. In fact, generation length may well have been longer in the days when population density was higher (Bjorndal et al. 2000).

Within the UAE, the main foraging areas are associated with seagrass beds along the Arabian Gulf coast from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi. On the east coast, the species is likely to forage on algae, cephalopods, small fishes, seagrass etc (F. Yagmour pers. comm. 2018). The EPAA Sharjah is in the process of concluding a study on the diet component of green turtles from the Gulf of Oman. There has been extensive coastal habitat change within the UAE, however, the scale of impacts on turtle habitats is less well known. It is assumed that foraging habitat, especially seagrass beds have declined, but there are no precise estimates of the scale of decline. AGEDI (2013) found seagrass beds in the Arabian Gulf as a whole to be poorly represented in protected areas and considered the seagrass ecosystem to be Endangered, however extensive areas of seagrass occur in UAE waters. Within Abu Dhabi Emirate, seagrass beds are a protected critical habitat and represented within several marine protected areas (Al Dhaheri et al. 2017). Despite this, a continuing decline in habitat quality and extent is inferred based on a range of threats, including coastal development and pollution, oil spills, dredging and so on.The seagrass meadows of the Arabian Gulf are poorly studied (Campbell et al. 2015). The most extensive seagrass meadows in the Arabian Gulf are found along the coast of Abu Dhabi Emirate, while seagrass can also be found in other Emirates; such as Al Taweelah and Jebel Ali (Erftemeijer and Shuail 2012), as well as Khor al Beidah in Umm al Qawain, and Ras Al Khaimah (Emirates Nature -“ WWF in press). The waters of the Arabian Gulf are subject to large variations in salinity and temperature (Price and Coles 1992), and these conditions contribute to the presence of the opportunistic, short-lived seagrass species in the UAE that recover quickly and rapidly recolonize open substrate. The large variations in sea surface temperature result in stress that places limits on survival and colonization (Price and Coles 1992). The presence of only three species of seagrass (Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis, Halophila stipulacea) in the Gulf might be related to these environmental conditions (Campbell et al. 2015). Like most sea turtles, this species is highly migratory and use a wide range of broadly separated localities and habitats during their lifetimes. Upon leaving the nesting beach, hatchlings begin an oceanic phase, perhaps floating passively in major current systems (gyres) that serve as open-ocean developmental grounds. After a number of years in the oceanic zone, these turtles recruit to neritic developmental areas rich in seagrass and/or marine algae where they forage and grow until maturity. Upon attaining sexual maturity, turtles commence breeding migrations between foraging grounds and nesting areas that are undertaken every few years. Migrations are carried out by both males and females and may traverse oceanic zones, often spanning thousands of kilometres. During non-breeding periods adults reside at coastal neritic feeding areas that sometimes coincide with juvenile developmental habitats.The generation length of the turtles found in UAE waters is estimated at 42.8 years (see <a href=""http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T4615A11037468.en"">Table 3, Supplementary material, Seminoff 2004</a>).

Restricted to the mountains and avoids the foothills and plains inhabited by Vulpes vulpes. Nocturnal. Extremely agile and an exceptional jumper, this species preys on invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals and fruit. Very little is known about their social structure. In captivity, two to four young are normally born between February and April after a gestation period of approximately 50 days (Aspinall et al. 2005). One analysis of faeces (n=4) showed that the diet of this species includes a variety of insects (Mantodea, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera) and spiders, a feather, unidentified bone remains, a gerbil incisor, fur, a reptile pelvis and snail remains (Cunningham and Howarth 2002). The diet also includes fruit seeds and plant material, selection of species depending on what is available locally (Cunningham and Howarth 2002). This study also noted the difference in tail tip colour: out of ten individuals caught in the UAE, seven had black tail tips and two white tips.

Roosts in crevices, cliffs and buildings (Harrison and Bates 1991). The colony on Qarn Nazwa roosts in rock crevices. Migrants from farther north in the Gulf have been recorded on Das Island.

The species inhabits sand and gravel deserts and avoids mountains. Arabian Oryx feed at night during the summer months, resting under shady trees during the heat of the day, while in winter they feed during the daytime, sheltering from cool desert winds at night (Aspinall et al. 2005). In high ambient temperatures, their body temperature increases, excess heat being lost later by radiation during the cooler night hours. Oryx meet almost all their water needs by eating plants with high water content and by feeding at a time when water from fog and dew is at its maximum. Oryx rarely run but can walk long distances at a steady pace, covering up to 50 km in a night (Aspinall et al. 2005).