Loggerhead Strandings and Captures Along the Southern Spanish Coast: Body Size–Based Differences in Natural Versus Anthropogenic Injury

Bellido, Juan Jesús; Báez, José C.; Castillo, Juan José; Pinto, Francisco José; Martín, Juan; Mons, J.L.; Real, Raimundo

doi:10.2744/ccb-0802.1

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Data from Rhodes provide evidence that human activities detrimentally affect mainly larger-sized loggerhead turtles, living in shallow waters. Dead loggerhead turtles were larger than live stranded specimens, as observed in Italian waters, particularly in the North Adriatic, where this result was mainly attributed to bottom trawlers (Casale et al , 2010), and in South Spain, where it is mainly due to longline fishery (Bellido et al , 2010a). Nevertheless, bottom trawlers in Greece do not seem to catch many turtles, since they operate in waters deeper than where turtles forage (Margaritoulis & Panagopoulou, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Green turtles showed less impact by human pressure, probably due to their smaller size compared to loggerhead turtles and to different use of coastal waters (cf. Bellido et al , 2010a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Excluding, therefore, boat seine impact for explaining the high number of strandings reported in summer, other causes are to be taken into account for dead turtles without external injuries or apparently without fishing gear. Turtles may be damaged by natural causes or pathologies that they suffer in the wild (Bellido et al , 2010a). Furthermore, it is possible that turtles have ingested gear (hooks and longlines) or plastic litter or bags (Margaritoulis & Panagopoulou, 2010) which have entered the digestive system, causing internal damage, or they were victims of set-nets entanglement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fishing activities are considered a serious threat to marine turtle populations in the Mediterranean and worldwide (Margaritoulis et al , 2007; Casale et al , 2010). Stranding records of marine turtles, although depending on various parameters such as natural mortality, interaction with human activities, currents, tides or prevailing winds (Hart et al , 2006; Bellido et al , 2010a, b), provide information on anthropogenic mortality—mainly fisheries induced mortality – and on biology and distribution of the species (Panagopoulos et al , 2003; Casale et al , 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increase of sea turtles stranding records in Rhodes Island (eastern Mediterranean Sea): update of a long-term survey

2013

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A total of 209 strandings of sea turtles (152 loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta, 42 green turtles Chelonia mydas, 15 unidentified) were recorded during the period 1984–2011 along the coasts of Rhodes (Aegean Sea, Greece). The proportion of dead to live individuals was different in the two species. Stranded Caretta caretta were larger than Chelonia mydas. The size range of stranded green turtles, usually juveniles, appeared to increase since 2000, including the largest specimens ever observed in Greek waters. For both species, a tendency to strand more frequently on the west coast of the island, along fishing ground areas, was noted. The higher incidence of loggerhead turtle strandings was observed in summer, while more green turtle strandings were documented in winter. Factors involved in the increased trend of stranding records of both species, along with the acceleration of this phenomenon in the last decade, are discussed. Data from Rhodes provide evidence that human activities detrimentally affect mainly larger-sized loggerhead turtles living in shallow waters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Green turtles showed less impact by human pressure, probably due to their smaller size compared to loggerhead turtles and to different use of coastal waters (cf. Bellido et al , 2010a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increase of sea turtles stranding records in Rhodes Island (eastern Mediterranean Sea): update of a long-term survey

2013

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“…Rescue Centers offer a unique opportunity to satellite track the rehabilitated individuals to identify potential new habitats (assumed to be unfavorable due to extreme thermal conditions), and redefine Regional Management Units to ensure the conservation of these endangered species. Hypothermia of sea turtles induced by cold weather episodes have been reported in the North-West Atlantic (Burke et al, 1991;Still et al, 2005;Roberts et al, 2014;Griffin et al, 2019;Innis et al, 2019), Gulf of Mexico (Foley et al, 2007;McMichael et al, 2008;Avens et al, 2012;Shaver et al, 2017), Mexican coast (Koch et al, 2013;Salinas-Zavala et al, 2020) and Western Europe (Davenport, 1997;Witt et al, 2007;Bellido et al, 2008Bellido et al, , 2010Monzón-Argüello et al, 2012;Nicolau et al, 2016), affecting three main species, i.e., the green, the Kemp's ridley and the loggerhead turtles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Trap or Favorable Habitat? First Evidence That Immature Sea Turtles May Survive at Their Range-Limits in the North-East Atlantic

2021

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Unusual environmental events can push marine animals outside their physiological tolerances through changes in trophic and/or thermal conditions. Such events typically increase the risk of stranding. Rescue Centers offer a unique opportunity to report animals in distress and satellite track rehabilitated individuals to identify potential new habitats and support an effective conservation of these endangered species. By combining sightings (1988–2020) and tracking data (2008–2020) collected along the French Atlantic and English Channel coasts, our study assessed if the Bay of Biscay is an ecological trap or a favorable habitat for immature sea turtles. The largest tracked individuals migrated westward to pelagic waters, likely toward their natal beaches, while smaller individuals remained within the Bay of Biscay (BoB) and crossed colder (mean: 17.8 ± 3.0°C) but more productive waters. The turtles’ directions differed from the ones of ocean currents, excluding a passive advection to these unexpected habitats. Although the BoB might be thermally unsuitable in winter, the higher micronekton biomass predicted in this region could offer a productive foraging habitat for immature turtles. However, the majority of the sightings referred to individuals stranded alive (75%), suggesting this area could also act as an ecological trap for the smallest individuals that are mostly reported in winter suffering cold-stunning. Assumed to be outside the species range, our results reveal a potential foraging ground in the North-East Atlantic for these young turtles, confirming the crucial role of the rehabilitation centers and the need to continue prioritizing conservation of these endangered species, particularly vulnerable at this stage and at such temperate latitudes.

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Biogeographical and Macroecological Context of the Alboran Sea

Real

Gofas

Altamirano

et al. 2021

Alboran Sea - Ecosystems and Marine Resources

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Loggerhead Strandings and Captures Along the Southern Spanish Coast: Body Size–Based Differences in Natural Versus Anthropogenic Injury

Cited by 6 publications

References 21 publications

Increase of sea turtles stranding records in Rhodes Island (eastern Mediterranean Sea): update of a long-term survey

Increase of sea turtles stranding records in Rhodes Island (eastern Mediterranean Sea): update of a long-term survey

Ecological Trap or Favorable Habitat? First Evidence That Immature Sea Turtles May Survive at Their Range-Limits in the North-East Atlantic

Biogeographical and Macroecological Context of the Alboran Sea

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