Movements of migrating green turtles in relation to AVHRR derived sea surface temperature

Hays, Graeme C.; Dray, M.; Quaife, Tristan; Smyth, Tim; Mironnet, Nathalie; Luschi, Paolo; Papi, Floriano; Barnsley, Michael J.

doi:10.1080/01431160118422

Cited by 36 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Using SST satellite and aerial survey data, Coles & Lusick (2000) suggest that the sea turtles are not randomly distributed geographically but stay within preferred temperature ranges that are seasonally variable. Other studies, however, indicate that sea turtles do not follow specific isotherms during migrations and do not make turns en route where specific thermal cues were encountered, suggesting that SST plays a minimal role in influencing the migration/aggregation of the sea turtles (Luschi et al, 1998;Hays et al, 2001). These results seem to coincide with our observations, given that no significant correlation between SST and the arribada was observed.…”

Section: Arribadasupporting

confidence: 88%

The relationship between the massive nesting of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the local physical environment at La Escobilla, Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2005

Coria-Monter

2017

Hidrobiológica

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The relationship between the massive nesting of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the local physical environment at La Escobilla, Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2005 La relación entre las arribadas de la tortuga golfina (Lepidochelys olivacea) y el ambiente físico en La Escobilla, Oaxaca, México durante 2005 . 2017. The relationship between the massive nesting of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the local physical environment at La Escobilla, Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2005. Hidrobiológica 27 (2): 201-209. ABSTRACTBackground. Sea turtles of the genus Lepidochelys exhibit a complex and synchronous mass-nesting behavior termed "arribada." Goals. This paper analyzes the local physical environment during the arribada events that occurred in 2005 at La Escobilla, Oaxaca, Mexico. Methods. Daily night patrols were conducted from May to November 2005, along the nesting zone. Daily records for air temperature and rainfall were obtained from the automatic weather station by the Comisión Nacional del Agua. Sea surface temperature and salinity fields were obtained from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM), and surface ocean currents were obtained from the Asia-Pacific Data Research Center. Results. The analyses showed five arribada events during the period. A common feature was the presence of eddies and strong currents at the beginning of each arribada. A correlation of statistical significance was observed between the abundance of the arribada and the current speed (R = 0.93, R 2 = 0.86, p = 0.04). The correlation with salinity showed values of R = 0.55, R 2 = 0.31, p = 0.32, whereas correlation with rainfall was R = 0.53, R 2 = 0.28, p = 0.14. A weak correlation was observed with air temperature (R = 0.35, R 2 = 0.12, p = 0.59) and with sea surface temperature (R = 0.23, R 2 = 0.05, p = 0.66). Conclusions. Although sea turtles are strong swimmers, the proximity to favorable oceanic currents generated by eddies might be related to the beginning of the arribada, considering that this current might provide energy savings and accumulate chemical compounds and food in the water column. RESUMENAntecedentes. Las tortugas marinas del género Lepidochelys presentan un complejo comportamiento de anidamiento masivo conocido como arribada. Objetivos. El presente trabajo analiza la relación entre el ambiente físico durante los eventos de arribada ocurridos en 2005 en La Escobilla, Oaxaca, México. Métodos. Se realizaron patrullajes nocturnos de mayo a noviembre de 2005 y se obtuvieron registros de temperatura del aire y precipitación del radar meteorológico de CONAGUA. Mapas de salinidad y temperatura superficial del mar fueron obtenidos a partir del modelo HYCOM. Las corrientes superficiales fueron determinadas a partir de bases de datos disponibles por Centros de Investigación en dinámica oceanográfica internacionales. Resultados. Se observaron cinco eventos de arribada. Una característica importante fue la presencia de vórtices y corrientes intensas durante su inicio. Se observó una correlación ...

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Section: Arribadasupporting

confidence: 88%

The relationship between the massive nesting of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the local physical environment at La Escobilla, Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2005

Coria-Monter

2017

Hidrobiológica

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“…These problems are increasingly being circumvented by adopting a Lagrangian approach to the study of wide-ranging marine animals in which the individual movement is measured using miniature animal-attached devices, such as satellite-tracking tags (Turchin 1998, Burger and Shaffer 2008, Tremblay et al 2009). Data from these devices can be combined with environmental data collected by satellite remote-sensing (Martin 2004) to give a simultaneous view of both the environment and the movement of known individuals throughout the full extent of their potential home range (e.g., Guinet et al 2001, Hays et al 2001, Hyrenbach et al 2002. Furthermore, advances in statistical modeling are increasingly making it possible to test ecological hypotheses using the large volumes of data that these technologies provide (Guisan and Zimmermann 2000, Aarts et al 2008, Patterson et al 2008.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat preference, accessibility, and competition limit the global distribution of breeding Black-browed Albatrosses

Wakefield

Phillips

Trathan

et al. 2011

Ecological Monographs

128

208

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Telemetry methods and remote sensing now make it possible to record the spatial usage of wide-ranging marine animals and the biophysical characteristics of their pelagic habitats. Furthermore, recent statistical advances mean that such data can be used to test ecological hypotheses and estimate species' distributions. Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophrys are highly mobile marine predators with a circumpolar breeding and foraging distribution in the Southern Hemisphere. Although they remain relatively abundant, increased fisheries bycatch has led to their listing as endangered by conservation bodies. We satellite-tracked 163 breeding Black-browed Albatrosses and eight closely related Campbell Albatrosses T. impavida from nine colonies. We then quantified habitat usage, and modeled population-level spatial distribution at spatiotemporal scales .50 km and 1 month, as a function of habitat accessibility, habitat preference, and intraspecific competition, using mixed-effects generalized additive models (GAMM). During incubation, birds foraged over a wider area than in the post-brood chick-rearing period, when they are more time constrained. Throughout breeding, the order of habitat preference of Black-browed Albatrosses was for neritic (0-500 m), shelf-break and upper shelf-slope (500-1000 m), and then oceanic (.1000 m) waters. Black-browed Albatrosses also preferred areas with steeper (.38) bathymetric relief and, in addition, during incubation, warmer sea surface temperatures (peak preference ;168C). Although this suggests specialization in neritic habitats, incubation-stage Blackbrowed Albatrosses from South Georgia also foraged extensively in oceanic waters, preferring areas with high eddy kinetic energy (.250 cm 2 /s 2 ), especially the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence, a region of intense mesoscale turbulence. During chick-rearing, this species had a more southerly distribution, and following the seasonal retreat of sea ice, birds from some populations utilized neritic polar waters. Campbell Albatrosses showed similar bathymetric preferences but also preferred positive sea level anomalies. Black-browed Albatross foraging areas were partially spatially segregated with respect to colony and region, with birds preferring locations distant from neighboring colonies, presumably in order to reduce competition between parapatric conspecifics. At the global scale, the greatest concentrations of breeding Black-browed Albatrosses are in southern South American neritic, shelf-break, and shelf-slope waters. These regions also hold large fisheries and should therefore be a priority for introduction of bycatch mitigation measures.

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“…Understanding such factors is critical for improving management and conservation initiatives for sea turtles. While basic environmental features such as bathymetry, sea surface temperature (SST), and surface currents have been linked to sea turtle movements (Morreale et al 1996, Hays et al 2001, Luschi et al 2003, Pelletier et al 2003, Etnoyer et al 2006, the mechanisms underlying these relationships are inadequately understood. Dynamic mesoscale processes such as SST and chlorophyll fronts -areas of interface between 2 dissimilar water masses -are known to strongly affect water column primary and secondary productivity (Olson et al 1994, Palacios et al 2006, and their status as prey aggregation zones suggests that they too may influence sea turtle movements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-nesting migrations of Galápagos green turtles Chelonia mydas in relation to oceanographic conditions: integrating satellite telemetry with remotely sensed ocean data

Seminoff¹,

Zárate²,

Coyne³

et al. 2008

Endang. Species. Res.

164

143

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Post-nesting movements of 12 green turtles from the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) were tracked with satellite telemetry during the 2003 and 2005 nesting seasons. To illuminate potential environmental influences on turtle movements we compared tracks with a variety of remotely sensed oceanographic variables including sea surface temperature (SST), SST front probability, surface height anomaly, surface current, and surface chlorophyll a concentration. Three distinct post-nesting migratory strategies were observed, including oceanic migration to Central America (Type A1 movements, n = 3), residency within the Galápagos (Type A2 movements, n = 2), and movement into oceanic waters southwest of the Galápagos (Type B movements, n = 7). Two turtles migrating to Central America reached neritic foraging areas in Nicaragua and Panama that were 1500 and 1542 km, respectively, from their nesting sites, and one resident turtle established a foraging home range 75 km from its final nesting site. Oceanic movements occurred in waters with a mean SST of 26.5°C and mean surface chlorophyll a concentration of 0.18 mg m-3 , whereas neritic movements were in waters with a mean SST of 24.3°C and mean surface chlorophyll a concentration of 0.47 mg m-3. All turtles accessed SST frontal zones at a greater rate than their availability, and at least 2 turtles conducted movements in the oceanic zone that were indicative of foraging activity. This is the first report of migratory corridors for Galápagos green turtles, confirming prior flipper tagging data that show that the Galápagos is a source rookery for green turtles in coastal areas of Central America. The high proportion of green turtles departing the Galápagos (83%) indicates that marine fisheries bycatch and directed hunting on this stock outside the Galápagos may impact this population more than previously believed, and underscores the need for multinational conservation efforts that combat these threats.

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Movements of migrating green turtles in relation to AVHRR derived sea surface temperature

Cited by 36 publications

References 14 publications

The relationship between the massive nesting of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the local physical environment at La Escobilla, Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2005

The relationship between the massive nesting of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the local physical environment at La Escobilla, Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2005

Habitat preference, accessibility, and competition limit the global distribution of breeding Black-browed Albatrosses

Post-nesting migrations of Galápagos green turtles Chelonia mydas in relation to oceanographic conditions: integrating satellite telemetry with remotely sensed ocean data

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