West Florida Shelf pipeline serves as sea turtle benthic habitat based on in situ towed camera observations

Abstract

The use of marine offshore benthic habitats by sea turtles is poorly characterized due to the difficulty of obtaining in situ data. Understanding benthic habitat use that is important to the species’ reproduction, foraging, and migrations is critical for guiding management decisions. A towed camera-based assessment survey system (C-BASS) equipped with environmental sensors was used to characterize and assess benthic habitats on the West Florida Shelf (WFS) from 2014 to 2018. During these cruises, sea turtles were opportunistically observed during the surveys, and critical in situ data such as spatiotemporal information, species identification, habitat use, behavior, and environmental data were collected and evaluated. In total, 79 sea turtles were observed during 97 transects of approximately 2700 km of seafloor, which was recorded on 380 h of video. Several sea turtle species were spotted within the WFS, including loggerhead Caretta caretta, Kemp’s ridley Lepidochelys kempii, and green turtles Chelonia mydas. These opportunistic sightings revealed an area of high use on the WFS, an anthropogenic structure known as the Gulfstream natural gas pipeline (GSPL). C-BASS survey results suggest that 2 sea turtle species (C. caretta and L. kempii) utilize this artificial structure primarily as a resting area. We emphasize the importance of combining habitat mapping techniques (towed underwater video and multibeam bathymetry/backscatter) with tracking technology to better understand the fine-scale habitat use of sea turtles.

Variation in Species Composition, Size and Fitness of Two Multi-Species Sea Turtle Assemblages Using Different Neritic Habitats

“…The role neritic habitat plays in the development of immature sea turtles has been broadly acknowledged (Musick and Limpus, 1997;Bolten, 2003;Broadbent et al, 2020). However, our results highlight variability in composition and habitat use of multi-species assemblages within this zone and suggest sea turtles in the northern GoM recruit into at least two different neritic habitats: seagrass meadows in coastal bays and nearshore sand bottom habitat.…”

Influence of offshore oil and gas structures on seascape ecological connectivity

“…On a few platforms (4), kittiwake productivity was higher than in most colonies on coastal man‐made structures over the same period, and much higher than that in natural breeding habitats, suggesting O&G platforms are potentially enhancing the population with these differences possibly related to differences in food availability and exposure to predators (Christensen‐Dalsgaard et al, 2019). Finally, marine turtles have also been observed to rest on artificial structures (Broadbent et al, 2020; Figure 5b).…”

“…O&G platforms are potentially enhancing the population with these differences possibly related to differences in food availability and exposure to predators (Christensen-Dalsgaard et al, 2019). Finally, marine turtles have also been observed to rest on artificial structures (Broadbent et al, 2020;Figure 5b).…”

“…Henry et al, 2018; van der Molen et al, 2018; Figure 2) at depths ranging from the seafloor to ocean surface. Pipelines may facilitate movements by providing a continuous habitat, potentially across great distances (Figure 2; Broadbent et al, 2020). This suggests that the presence of structures may increase habitat connectivity and facilitate expansion of organisms along geographical and depth ranges (Gass & Roberts, 2006; McLean et al, 2018; Sammarco et al, 2014).…”

“…On the positive side, the presence of O&G infrastructure, particularly in oligotrophic environments or on seabeds where natural hard substrata are scarce, provides a physical structure for marine ecosystems to develop. In such instances, structures can facilitate larval settlement and recruitment (Gass & Roberts, 2006; Love et al, 2006; Nishimoto et al, 2019b), increase the biomass of fish (Claisse et al, 2014; Clausen et al, 2021; Meyer‐Gutbrod et al, 2019), and promote biodiversity (Bond, Partridge, Taylor, Cooper, et al, 2018; Bond, Partridge, Taylor, Langlois, et al, 2018; Broadbent et al, 2020; McLean et al, 2017; Todd, Williamson, et al, 2020). The perceived beneficial value of these structures as habitat has led to ‘rigs to reefs’ (RTR) policies for decommissioned O&G structures in some parts of the globe (Bull & Love, 2019; Smyth et al, 2015).…”