Distribution of foraging habitats of male loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) as revealed by stable isotopes and satellite telemetry

Pajuelo, Mariela; Bjorndal, Karen A.; Reich, Kimberly J.; Arendt, Michael D.; Bolten, Alan B.

doi:10.1007/s00227-012-1906-9

Cited by 48 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…3) similar to the one previously observed in satellite-tracked male loggerhead turtles ( Fig. 1; Pajuelo et al 2012). Although the MAB turtles use waters of both the MAB (summer) and SAB (winter), they maintain distinct stable isotope values from those of turtles that use waters in the SAB year-round.…”

Section: Isotopic Characterization Of the Geographic Areas Used By Adsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…These requirements are met for adult loggerheads in the NWA and have been demonstrated for adult males (Pajuelo et al 2012). Male loggerheads show differences in their stable v www.esajournals.org isotope values reflecting the use of three geographic areas: the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB), the South Atlantic Bight (SAB), and the subtropical NWA (SNWA) (Pajuelo et al 2012; Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Also, because the isotopic values of satellite-tracked male loggerheads have shown a geographic pattern consistent with the use of the three geographic areas mentioned above (Pajuelo et al 2012), male data (n ¼ 23) were incorporated in the isotopic characterization of the three geographic areas used by adult loggerheads. Few satellite tracked turtles migrated to the SNWA, so we included additional epidermis samples from adult-size loggerheads collected at one foraging ground in the SNWA (Florida Bay; n ¼ 15).…”

Section: Data and Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In sea turtles, epidermis, keratin, and red blood cells reflect a longer-term foraging history (Reich et al 2008). Therefore, such tissues collected for turtles at breeding areas reflect their dietary history at foraging grounds prior to migration to the breeding area (Wallace et al 2006, Caut et al 2008, Vander Zanden et al 2010, Zbinden et al 2011, Pajuelo et al 2012, Seminoff et al 2012.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2). Previously published isotopic data from epidermis samples of adult female loggerheads collected at four nesting areas in Florida (n ¼ 310; Reich et al 2010) and adult male loggerheads collected at one breeding area in Florida (n ¼ 23; Pajuelo et al 2012) were also included in this study (Table 1; Fig. 2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assignment of nesting loggerhead turtles to their foraging areas in the Northwest Atlantic using stable isotopes

et al. 2012

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Abstract. Differential foraging area use can affect population demographics of highly migratory fauna because of differential environmental changes and anthropogenic threats among those areas. Thus, identification of foraging areas is vital for the development of effective management strategies for endangered migratory species. In this study, we assigned 375 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at six locations along the east coast of the United States to their foraging areas in the Northwest Atlantic (NWA) using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values (d 15N values characterized three geographic areas-with distinct abiotic and biotic features-used by adult loggerheads in the NWA. Discriminant analysis assigned all 375 female loggerheads to one of the three foraging areas; 91% were assigned with probabilities of !80%. The proportion of nesting turtles using each foraging ground varied geographically; most turtles nesting in northern beaches (72-80%) tend to forage at higher latitudes while most turtles nesting in southern beaches (46-81%) tend to forage at lower latitudes. Stable isotopes can reveal the foraging location of loggerhead turtles in the NWA, which will allow robust analyses of foraging ground effects on demography and improve the design of management strategies for the conservation of loggerhead populations. The conclusions and methods developed in this study are also relevant for other populations of sea turtles and for other highly migratory species.

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Section: Isotopic Characterization Of the Geographic Areas Used By Adsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Data and Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assignment of nesting loggerhead turtles to their foraging areas in the Northwest Atlantic using stable isotopes

et al. 2012

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Multi‐tissue stable isotope analyses reveal temporal changes in the feeding patterns of green turtles in the Galapagos Marine Reserve

et al. 2021

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Knowledge of feeding patterns of highly migratory species is critical for understanding their habitat use and informing the management of their populations. The Galapagos Islands are one of the most important nesting and feeding areas for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) across the tropical eastern Pacific, yet little is known about the feeding patterns of this species. The isotopic composition of different tissues has been used to gain insight into the trophic dynamics of mobile aquatic consumers whose trophic behavior is difficult to directly measure. To elucidate the temporal feeding patterns and isotopic niche sizes of Galapagos green turtles, stable isotope analyses were performed on multiple tissues (skin and carapace) collected at the two most important nesting areas in the archipelago: Bachas and Quinta Playa. The δ13C and δ15N signatures on the skin and carapace samples from 56 adult females revealed significant differences between tissues (p = .001 and p = .021, respectively) and nesting areas (p = .011 and p = .003, respectively). These differences suggest a shift from oceanic feeding grounds to neritic habitats before nesting. The carapace isotope values indicated an offshore feeding strategy and a greater isotopic niche (SEAc = 1.91‰2), whereas the skin isotope values represented an inshore feeding strategy with a narrower niche (SEAc = 1.37‰2), likely related to the consumption of specific coastal prey. Our results suggest that Galapagos green turtles feed across different habitats, and this information can be applied to improve the management of this endangered species.

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Stable isotopic comparison between loggerhead sea turtle tissues

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Tucker

Bolten

et al. 2014

Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom.

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Whereas both epidermis and scute samples are commonly sampled from nesting sea turtles to study trophic ecology and habitat use, the data from these studies have not been comparable without reliable tissue-to-tissue conversions. The equations provided here allow isotopic datasets using the two tissues to be combined in previously published and subsequent studies of sea turtle foraging ecology and migratory movement. In addition, we recommend that future isotopic comparisons between tissues of any organism utilize linear regressions to calculate tissue-to-tissue conversions.

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Distribution of foraging habitats of male loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) as revealed by stable isotopes and satellite telemetry

Cited by 48 publications

References 63 publications

Assignment of nesting loggerhead turtles to their foraging areas in the Northwest Atlantic using stable isotopes

Assignment of nesting loggerhead turtles to their foraging areas in the Northwest Atlantic using stable isotopes

Multi‐tissue stable isotope analyses reveal temporal changes in the feeding patterns of green turtles in the Galapagos Marine Reserve

Stable isotopic comparison between loggerhead sea turtle tissues

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