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Fidelity to foraging sites, consistency of migration routes and habitat modulation of home range by sea turtles
journal contribution
posted on 2010-09-01, 00:00 authored by Gail Schofield, V Hobson, S Fossette, M Lilley, K Katselidis, Graeme HaysGraeme HaysAim Resources can shape patterns of habitat utilization. Recently a broad foraging dichotomy between oceanic and coastal sites has been revealed for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Since oceanic and coastal foraging sites differ in prey availability, we might expect a gross difference in home-range size across these habitats. We tested this hypothesis by equipping nine adult male loggerhead sea turtles with GPS tracking devices. Location National Marine Park of Zakynthos (NMPZ) Greece, central and eastern Mediterranean (Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas). Methods In 2007, 2008 and 2009, Fastloc GPS-Argos transmitters were attached to nine male loggerheads. In addition, a Sirtrack PTT unit was attached to one male in 2007. Four of the turtles were tracked on successive years. We filtered the GPS data to ensure comparable data volumes. Route consistency between breeding and foraging sites of the four re-tracked turtles was conducted. Foraging site home range areas and within site movement patterns were investigated by the fixed kernel density method. Results Foraging home range size ranged between circa 10 km2 at neritic habitats (coastal and open-sea on the continental shelf) to circa 1000 km2 at oceanic sites (using 90% kernel estimates), the latter most probably reflecting sparsely distributed oceanic prey. Across different years individuals did not follow exactly the same migration routes, but did show fidelity to their previous foraging sites, whether oceanic or neritic, with accurate homing in the final stages of migration. Main conclusions The broad distribution and diverse life-history strategies of this population could complicate the identification of priority marine protected areas beyond the core breeding site.
History
Journal
Diversity and distributionsVolume
16Issue
5Pagination
840 - 853Publisher
WileyLocation
London, EnglandPublisher DOI
ISSN
1366-9516eISSN
1472-4642Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2010, WileyUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Biodiversity scaleconservation managementendangeredmarine vertebratephenologyremote technologyScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineBiodiversity ConservationEcologyBiodiversity & ConservationEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyLONG-DISTANCE MIGRATIONCHELONIA-MYDASCARETTA-CARETTALEPIDOCHELYS-KEMPIILEATHERBACK TURTLESSEXUAL SEGREGATIONMOVEMENT PATTERNSMEDITERRANEAN SEAPROTECTED AREASSATELLITE