hays-movementpatterns-2012.pdf (1.25 MB)
Movement patterns for a critically endangered species, the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), linked to foraging success and population status
journal contribution
posted on 2012-01-01, 00:00 authored by H Bailey, S Fossette, S Bograd, G Shillinger, A Swithenbank, J Y Georges, P Gaspar, S Patrik, F Paladino, J Spotila, B Block, Graeme HaysGraeme HaysForaging success for pelagic vertebrates may be revealed by horizontal and vertical movement patterns. We show markedly different patterns for leatherback turtles in the North Atlantic versus Eastern Pacific, which feed on gelatinous zooplankton that are only occasionally found in high densities. In the Atlantic, travel speed was characterized by two modes, indicative of high foraging success at low speeds (<15 km dā1) and transit at high speeds (20ā45 km dā1). Only a single mode was evident in the Pacific, which occurred at speeds of 21 km dā1 indicative of transit. The mean dive depth was more variable in relation to latitude but closer to the mean annual depth of the thermocline and nutricline for North Atlantic than Eastern Pacific turtles. The most parsimonious explanation for these findings is that Eastern Pacific turtles rarely achieve high foraging success. This is the first support for foraging behaviour differences between populations of this critically endangered species and suggests that longer periods searching for prey may be hindering population recovery in the Pacific while aiding population maintenance in the Atlantic.
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Journal
PLOS oneVolume
7Issue
5Pagination
1 - 8Publisher
Public Library of ScienceLocation
San Francisco, Calif.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1932-6203Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2012, Public Library of ScienceUsage metrics
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