Seasonal Migration of Immature Kemp's Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii Garman) Along the West Coast of Florida

Schmid, Jeffrey R.; Witzell, Wayne N.

doi:10.18785/goms.2401.05

Cited by 20 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Although movements of immature ridleys varied in direction and destination, all traversed shallow nearshore areas, remaining primarily in waters less than 5 m deep during most or all of the tracking period. Water depth and SST ranges inhabited by immature ridleys in the present study were also similar to those recorded for 5 slightly larger individuals (38.6 to 51.1 cm SCL) tracked in the Cedar Keys on the Gulf coast of Florida (Schmid & Witzell 2006). Both groups preferred shallow nearshore areas, and SST values recorded for the Florida conspecifics during May (21 to 28°C) and June to August (26 to 31°C) mirrored values in this study.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

“…These results suggest that relocation of hook-and-line-caught Kemp's ridleys to McFaddin NWR may be a viable option for reducing recapture rates at Galveston County, Texas, fishing piers. Despite differences between movement patterns of immature ridleys tracked in the present study and those tracked previously in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (Renaud & Williams 2005) and Florida (Schmid & Witzell 2006), the habitat characteristics of some seasonal foraging sites are likely similar, although specific prey items and abundances may vary. For example, Texas and Louisiana bays, in providing protection from adverse sea conditions, better visibility for foraging, and access to abundant populations of blue crabs Callinectes sapidus and other benthic prey (More 1969, Britton & Morton 1989, Metz 2004, Minello et al 2008, may offer immature ridleys the same foraging advantages as does the lee side of tidal passes.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 63%

“…Movements of immature relocated Kemp's ridleys contrasted not only with site fidelity previously observed in the northwestern Gulf (Renaud & Willi ams 2005), but also with fidelity of immature conspecifics to Florida Panhandle fishing piers (Rudloe & Rudloe 2005), loggerheads to northwestern Gulf petroleum structures (Renaud & Carpenter 1994), and seasonal and inter-annual fidelity exhibited by im ma ture ridleys to Florida's Cedar Keys (Schmid & Witzell 2006). Only one of the 15 immature ridleys in the present study, a 2004 hook-and-line capture (I-01), returned to the vicinity of its capture location (Gil christ, Texas) during the tracking period, whereas the 2005 relocation trawl capture (I-05) ap proached its capture location (Calcasieu Pass, ap prox i mately 110 km straightline distance from re lease) near the end of its 41 d track (Fig.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 56%

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Movement patterns of immature and adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtles in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Seney¹,

Landry²

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The Kemp's ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys kempii is recovering from declines that reduced nesting from a single-day estimate of 10 000 to 40 000 females in 1947 to < 300 during the entire 1985 nesting season. Although beach monitoring is crucial to estimating nesting population size and activity, in-water data are essential for understanding population dynamics, evaluating management strategies, and ensuring the species' continued recovery. Fifteen immature and 7 adult female ridleys were fitted with platform terminal transmitters and released off the upper Texas coast during 2004 through 2007. Immature individuals were tracked primarily during warmer months and exhibited preferences for tidal passes, bays, coastal lakes, and nearshore waters, although movement patterns varied among years. Females tracked during their internesting intervals remained in the vicinity of the upper Texas coast and, upon entering the postnesting stage, moved eastward along the 20 m isobath to foraging areas offshore of central Louisiana. Satellite telemetry indicated that inshore and continental shelf waters of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico serve as developmental, migratory, inter-nesting, and post-nesting habitat for the Kemp's ridley. Projected population growth will likely lead to increased use of the northwestern Gulf by the species and more frequent encounters with human activities. The extent of such anthropogenic interactions and need for mitigation measures should be examined and considered by natural resource managers to facilitate continued recovery of this and other sea turtle species in the Gulf of Mexico. Likewise, research efforts should be continued to better understand seasonal in-water distributions, abundances, population dynamics, and mortality risks to all life history stages.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 63%

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 56%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Movement patterns of immature and adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtles in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Seney¹,

Landry²

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…data). Likewise, immature ridleys tracked from seasonal foraging grounds along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (Renaud & Williams 2005), the Florida Gulf coast (Schmid & Witzell 2006), and New York (Morreale & Standora 2005) utilized nearshore waters for both foraging and migration. Documentation of nesting activity on the upper Texas coast also provided evidence that Kemp's ridleys nest along the upper Texas coast and establish fidelity to constituent habitats during some or all phases of the nesting season.…”

Section: Implications Of Telemetry Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movements of Kemps ridley sea turtles nesting on the upper Texas coast: implications for management

Seney

Landry²

2008

Endang. Species. Res.

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Increased nesting by the critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys kempii at Rancho Nuevo, Mexico has been complemented by commencement and growth of nesting in Texas, USA. Six female Kemp's ridleys were fitted with satellite transmitters after nesting on the upper Texas coast during 2005 and 2006 and subsequently tracked for 20 to 153 d. Two were confirmed nesting a second time on Galveston Island, whereas satellite tracks of these and 2 other females suggested that each nested a total of 3 times on the upper Texas coast within a season. Five of the females showed fidelity to nearshore waters off Galveston Island during their respective nesting seasons, and all 4 ridleys tracked after the nesting season established foraging areas on the continental shelf of Louisiana. One female stranded dead on Galveston Island 20 d after transmitter deployment. Fidelity of these nesters to the upper Texas coast, along with apparent increases in nesting activity in the region, warrant establishment of sea turtle management schemes comparable to those utilized in south Texas. Potential threats posed by urbanization, tourism, and in-water activities along the upper Texas coast should be addressed by federal, state, and local authorities, whereas increased nesting may also present opportunities for educational outreach and responsible ecotourism.

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“…Juvenile Kemp's ridley turtles in the GOM show a preference for water temperatures above 18°C (Schmid & Witzell 2006) and likely move into the shallow water as temperatures rise above 18°C. The Louisiana and Mississippi coastal waters usually reach 20°C in early April, at which time juvenile Kemp's ridley turtles are probably moving into this region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using an ocean model to predict likely drift tracks of sea turtle carcasses in the north central Gulf of Mexico

Nero

Cook²,

Coleman³

et al. 2013

Endang. Species. Res.

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From March through July 2011, an increased number of Kemp's ridley sea turtles Lepidochelys kempii were reported stranded on the islands, beaches and shorelines of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Members of the National Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network responded, documenting the location and physical condition of each turtle. This report describes an ocean physical model-based analysis of the spring and summer 2011 Mississippi stranding events. Included within this group of strandings was 1 satellite-tagged moribund Kemp's ridley turtle, initially alive and tagged by the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies for a site fidelity study. Data from this tracking event provided an accurate time sequence of 58 h, during which the animal was presumed to be drifting, based on observed characteristics that were typical of a floating carcass. Turtle drift data were combined with output from the America SEAS (AMSEAS) hydrodynamic model to provide an estimate of leeway. The AMSEAS model was then applied to an additional 247 stranded turtles to produce 5 d Lagrangian backtrack drifts to derive mortality source location probability maps. Based on the model presented in this study, the majority of mortalities appeared to have occurred in eastern Louisiana state waters.

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Seasonal Migration of Immature Kemp's Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii Garman) Along the West Coast of Florida

Cited by 20 publications

References 14 publications

Movement patterns of immature and adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtles in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Movement patterns of immature and adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtles in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Movements of Kemps ridley sea turtles nesting on the upper Texas coast: implications for management

Using an ocean model to predict likely drift tracks of sea turtle carcasses in the north central Gulf of Mexico

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Seasonal Migration of Immature Kemp's Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii Garman) Along the West Coast of Florida

Cited by 20 publications

References 14 publications

Movement patterns of immature and adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtles in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Movement patterns of immature and adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtles in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Movements of Kemps ridley sea turtles nesting on the upper Texas coast: implications for management

Using an ocean model to predict likely drift tracks of sea turtle carcasses in the north central Gulf of Mexico

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Product

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Movements of Kemps ridley sea turtles nesting on the upper Texas coast: implications for management