Title

First Satellite Tracks Of Neonate Sea Turtles Redefine The 'Lost Years' Oceanic Niche

Keywords

Caretta caretta; Ocean migration; Oceanic stage sea turtles; Satellite telemetry; Sea turtle 'lost years'; Thermal niche

Abstract

Few at-sea behavioural data exist for oceanic-stage neonate sea turtles, a life-stage commonly referred to as the sea turtle 'lost years'. Historically, the long-term tracking of small, fast-growing organisms in the open ocean was logistically or technologically impossible. Here, we provide the first long-term satellite tracks of neonate sea turtles. Loggerheads (Caretta caretta)were remotely tracked in the Atlantic Ocean using small solar-powered satellite transmitters. We show that oceanic-stage turtles (i) rarely travel in Continental Shelf waters, (ii) frequently depart the currents associatedwith the NorthAtlantic Subtropical Gyre, (iii) travel quickly when in Gyre currents, and (iv) select sea surface habitats that are likely to provide a thermal benefit or refuge to young sea turtles, supporting growth, foraging and survival. Our satellite tracks help define Atlantic loggerhead nursery grounds and early loggerhead habitat use, allowing us to re-examine sea turtle 'lost years' paradigms. © 2014 The Authors.

Publication Date

3-5-2014

Publication Title

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Volume

281

Issue

1781

Number of Pages

-

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.3039

Socpus ID

84902665514 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84902665514

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