Large-scale movement patterns of male loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in Shark Bay, Australia
Erica L. Olson A D , Anne K. Salomon A , Aaron J. Wirsing B and Michael R. Heithaus C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
B School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Box 352100, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
C School of Environment, Arts and Society, Florida International University, ACI-318, 3000 NE 151st, North Miami, FL 33181, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: eolson@sfu.ca
Marine and Freshwater Research 63(11) 1108-1116 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12030
Submitted: 31 January 2012 Accepted: 23 July 2012 Published: 26 November 2012
Abstract
Large marine vertebrates are particularly susceptible to anthropogenic threats because they tend to be long-lived, late to mature and wide-ranging. Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are characterised by such life history traits and are listed as ‘Endangered’ by The World Conservation Union. Although juvenile movements and at-sea behaviour of adult females are relatively well studied, little is known about the movements of males and their subsequent exposure to threats. Shark Bay, Western Australia, is home to the largest breeding population of loggerhead turtles in Australia. We assessed the large-scale movements of nine adult male loggerhead turtles, with the goal of aiding conservation and management policies. During 7 months outside the breeding season, all nine turtles stayed within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, with most showing fidelity to small coastal foraging areas. Several turtles, however, showed relatively large movements between core foraging areas. None of the four turtles that continued transmitting through the breeding season exhibited obvious movements towards nesting beaches, suggesting that mating may occur on foraging grounds or that males are not mating every year. Quantifying male loggerhead movements assists conservation planning by identifying biologically relevant spatial scales at which research and management strategies should be designed.
Additional keywords: Argos, habitat use, Indian Ocean, kernel density estimation, satellite telemetry, spatial ecology.
References
Arendt, M. D., Segars, A. L., Byrd, J. I., Boynton, J., Schwenter, J. A., Whitaker, J. D., and Parker, L. (2012). Migration, distribution, and diving behavior of adult male loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) following dispersal from a major breeding aggregation in the western North Atlantic. Marine Biology 159, 113–125.| Migration, distribution, and diving behavior of adult male loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) following dispersal from a major breeding aggregation in the western North Atlantic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baldwin, R., Hughes, G. R., and Prince, R. I. T. (2003). Loggerhead turtles in the Indian Ocean. In ‘Loggerhead Sea Turtles’. (Eds A. B. Bolten and B. E. Witherington.) pp. 218–232. (Smithsonian Books: Washington, DC.)
Block, B. A., Dewar, H., Blackwell, S. B., Williams, T. D., Prince, E. D., Farwell, C. J., Boustany, A., Teo, S. L. H., Seitz, A., Walli, A., and Fudge, D. (2001). Migratory movements, depth preferences, and the thermal biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Science 293, 1310–1314.
| Migratory movements, depth preferences, and the thermal biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXmtFCqtb0%3D&md5=630bce4a39844613f3ed2d1f4742836cCAS |
Breed, G. A., Bowen, W. D., McMillan, J. I., and Leonard, M. S. (2006). Sexual segregation of seasonal foraging habitats in a non-migratory marine mammal. Proceedings. Biological Sciences 273, 2319–2326.
| Sexual segregation of seasonal foraging habitats in a non-migratory marine mammal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
CLS (2011). ‘Argos User Manual.’ Available at http://www.argos-system.org/manual/ [accessed 30 October 2011].
Coyne, M. S., and Godley, B. J. (2005). Satellite tracking and analysis tool (STAT): an integrated system for archiving, analyzing and mapping animal tracking data. Marine Ecology Progress Series 301, 1–7.
| Satellite tracking and analysis tool (STAT): an integrated system for archiving, analyzing and mapping animal tracking data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Department of Environment and Conservation (2009). Marine turtle recovery plan for Western Australia 2009–2016. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, WA.
Duong, T. (2007). ks: kernel density estimation and kernel discriminant analysis for multivariate data in R. Journal of Statistical Software 21, 1–16.
Eckert, S. A., Moore, J. E., Dunn, D. C., vanBuiten, R. S., Eckert, K. L., and Halpin, P. N. (2008). Modeling loggerhead turtle movement in the Mediterranean: importance of body size and oceanography. Ecological Applications 18, 290–308.
| Modeling loggerhead turtle movement in the Mediterranean: importance of body size and oceanography.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Godley, B. J., Blumenthal, J. M., Broderick, A. C., Coyne, M. S., Godfrey, M. H., Hawkes, L. A., and Witt, M. J. (2008). Satellite tracking of sea turtles: where have we been and where do we go next? Endangered Species Research 4, 3–22.
| Satellite tracking of sea turtles: where have we been and where do we go next?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Godley, B. J., Barbosa, C., Bruford, M., Broderick, A. C., Catry, P., Coyne, M. S., Formia, A., Hays, G. C., and Witt, M. J. (2010). Unravelling migratory connectivity in marine turtles. Journal of Applied Ecology 47, 769–778.
| Unravelling migratory connectivity in marine turtles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hamann, M., Godfrey, M. H., Seminoff, J. A., Arthur, K., Barata, P. C. R., Bjorndal, K. A., Bolten, A. B., Broderick, A. C., Campbell, L. M., Carreras, C., Casale, P., Chaloupka, M., Chan, S. K. F., Coyne, M. S., Crowder, L. B., Diez, C. E., Dutton, P. H., Epperly, S. P., FitzSimmons, N. N., Formia, A., Girondot, M., Hays, G. C., Cheng, I. J., Kaska, Y., Lewison, R., Mortimer, J. A., Nichols, W. J., Reina, R. D., Shanker, K., Spotila, J. R., Tomás, J., Wallace, B. P., Work, T. M., Zbinden, J., and Godley, B. J. (2010). Global research priorities for sea turtles: informing management and conservation in the 21st century. Endangered Species Research 11, 245–269.
| Global research priorities for sea turtles: informing management and conservation in the 21st century.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hawkes, L. A., Witt, M. J., Broderick, A. C., Coker, J. W., Coyne, M. S., Dodd, M., Frick, M. G., Godfrey, M. H., Griffin, D. B., Murphy, S. R., Murphy, T. M., Williams, K. L., and Godley, B. J. (2011). Home on the range: spatial ecology of loggerhead turtles in Atlantic water of the USA. Diversity & Distributions 17, 624–640.
| Home on the range: spatial ecology of loggerhead turtles in Atlantic water of the USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hays, G. C., Akesson, S., Godley, B. J., Luschi, P., and Santidrian, P. (2001). The implications of location accuracy for the interpretation of satellite-tracking data. Animal Behaviour 61, 1035–1040.
| The implications of location accuracy for the interpretation of satellite-tracking data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hays, G. C., Bradshaw, C. J. A., James, M. C., Lovell, P., and Sims, D. W. (2007). Why do Argos satellite tags deployed on marine animals stop transmitting. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 349, 52–60.
| Why do Argos satellite tags deployed on marine animals stop transmitting.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hays, G. C., Fossette, S., Katselidis, K. A., Schofield, G., and Gravenor, M. B. (2010). Breeding periodicity for male sea turtles, operational sex ratios, and implications in the face of climate change. Conservation Biology 24, 1636–1643.
| Breeding periodicity for male sea turtles, operational sex ratios, and implications in the face of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heithaus, M. R., Frid, A., and Dill, L. M. (2002). Shark-inflicted injury frequencies, escape ability, and habitat use of green and loggerhead turtles. Marine Biology 140, 229–236.
| Shark-inflicted injury frequencies, escape ability, and habitat use of green and loggerhead turtles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heithaus, M. R., Frid, A., Wirsing, A. J., Bejder, L., and Dill, L. M. (2005). The biology of green and loggerhead turtles under risk from tiger sharks at a foraging ground. Marine Ecology Progress Series 288, 285–294.
| The biology of green and loggerhead turtles under risk from tiger sharks at a foraging ground.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
James, M. C., Ottensmeyer, A., and Myers, R. A. (2005). Identification of high-use habitat and threats to leatherback sea turtles in northern waters: new directions for conservation. Ecology Letters 8, 195–201.
| Identification of high-use habitat and threats to leatherback sea turtles in northern waters: new directions for conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kernohan, B. J., Gitzen, R. A., and Millspaugh, J. J. (2001). Analysis of animal space use and movements. In ‘Radio Tracking and Animal Populations’. (Eds J. J. Millspaugh and J. M. Marzluff.) pp. 125–166. (Academic Press: San Diego, CA.)
Lichti, N. I., and Swihart, R. K. (2011). Estimating utilization distributions with kernel versus local convex hull methods. The Journal of Wildlife Management 75, 413–422.
| Estimating utilization distributions with kernel versus local convex hull methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Luschi, P., Hays, G. C., Del Seppia, C., Marsh, R., and Papi, F. (1998). The navigational feats of green sea turtles migrating from Ascension Island investigated by satellite telemetry. Proceedings. Biological Sciences 265, 2279–2284.
| The navigational feats of green sea turtles migrating from Ascension Island investigated by satellite telemetry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FpvVWnug%3D%3D&md5=9b3ca23a2e2e51871a3ba64c40560dc5CAS |
Mangel, J. C., Alfaro-Shigueto, J., Witt, M. J., Dutton, P. H., Seminoff, J. A., and Godley, B. J. (2011). Post-capture movements of loggerhead turtles in the southeastern Pacific Ocean assessed by satellite tracking. Marine Ecology Progress Series 433, 261–272.
Marcovaldi, M. A., Lopez, G. G., Soares, L. S., Lima, E. H. S. M., Thome, J. C. A., and Almeida, A. P. (2010). Satellite-tracking of female loggerhead turtles highlights fidelity behavior in northeastern Brazil. Endangered Species Research 12, 263–272.
| Satellite-tracking of female loggerhead turtles highlights fidelity behavior in northeastern Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maxwell, S. M., Breed, B. A., Nickel, B. A., Makanga-Bahouna, J., Pemo-Makaya, E., Parnell, R. J., Formia, A., Ngouessono, S., Godley, B. J., Costa, D. P., Witt, M. J., and Coyne, M. S. (2011). Using satellite tracking to optimize protection of marine species: olive ridley sea turtle conservation in central Africa. PLoS ONE 6, e19905.
| Using satellite tracking to optimize protection of marine species: olive ridley sea turtle conservation in central Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXmt1ejtbc%3D&md5=bf57f8f6c596fa55978e67ae49ce6abaCAS |
Preen, A. R., Marsh, H., Lawler, I. R., Prince, R. I. T., and Shepherd, R. (1997). Distribution and abundance of dugongs, turtles, dolphins and other megafauna in Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia. Wildlife Research 24, 185–208.
| Distribution and abundance of dugongs, turtles, dolphins and other megafauna in Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rees, A. F., Al Saady, S., Broderick, A. C., Coyne, M. S., Papathanasopoulou, N., and Godley, B. J. (2010). Behavioural polymorphism in one of the world’s largest populations of loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta. Marine Ecology Progress Series 418, 201–212.
| Behavioural polymorphism in one of the world’s largest populations of loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Royer, F., and Lutcavage, M. (2008). Filtering and interpreting location errors in satellite telemetry of marine animals. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 359, 1–10.
| Filtering and interpreting location errors in satellite telemetry of marine animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rutz, C., and Hays, G. C. (2009). New frontiers in biologging science. Biology Letters 5, 289–292.
| New frontiers in biologging science.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schofield, G., Bishop, C. M., MacLean, G., Brown, P., Baker, M., Katselidis, K. A., Dimopoulos, P., Pantis, J. D., and Hays, G. C. (2007). Novel GPS tracking of sea turtles as a tool for conservation management. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 347, 58–68.
| Novel GPS tracking of sea turtles as a tool for conservation management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schofield, G., Lilley, M. K. S., Bishop, C. M., Brown, P., Katselidis, K. A., Dimopoulos, P., and Hays, G. C. (2009). Conservation hotspots: implications of intense spatial area use by breeding male and female loggerheads at he Mediterranean’s largest rookery. Endangered Species Research 10, 191–202.
| Conservation hotspots: implications of intense spatial area use by breeding male and female loggerheads at he Mediterranean’s largest rookery.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schofield, G., Hobson, V. J., Fossette, S., Lilley, M. K. S., Katselidis, K. A., and Hays, G. C. (2010). Fidelity to foraging sites, consistency of migration routes and habitat modulation of home range by sea turtles. Diversity & Distributions 16, 840–853.
| Fidelity to foraging sites, consistency of migration routes and habitat modulation of home range by sea turtles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schroeder, B. A., Foley, A. M., and Bagley, D. A. (2003). Nesting patterns, reproductive migrations, and adult foraging areas of loggerhead turtles. In ‘Loggerhead Sea Turtles’. (Eds A. B. Bolten and B. E. Witherington.) pp. 114–124. (Smithsonian Books: Washington, DC.)
Scott, R., Marsh, R., and Hays, G. C. (2012). Life in the really slow lane: loggerhead sea turtles mature late relative to other reptiles. Functional Ecology 26, 227–235.
| Life in the really slow lane: loggerhead sea turtles mature late relative to other reptiles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Seaman, D. E., Millspaugh, J. J., Kernohan, B. J., Brundige, G. C., Raedeke, K. J., and Gitzen, R. A. (1999). Effects of sample size on kernel home range estimates. The Journal of Wildlife Management 63, 739–747.
| Effects of sample size on kernel home range estimates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomson, J. A., Burkholder, D., Heithaus, M. R., and Dill, L. M. (2009). Validation of a rapid visual-assessment technique for ategorizing the body condition of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the field. Copeia 2009, 251–255.
| Validation of a rapid visual-assessment technique for ategorizing the body condition of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the field.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomson, J. A., Heithaus, M. R., Burkholder, D. A., Vaudo, J. J., Wirsing, A. J., and Dill, L. M. (2012). Site specialists, diet generalists? Isotopic variation, site fidelity, and foraging by loggerhead turtles in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series 453, 213–226.
| Site specialists, diet generalists? Isotopic variation, site fidelity, and foraging by loggerhead turtles in Shark Bay, Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Van Dam, R. P., Diez, C. E., Balazs, G. H., Colon, L. A. C., McMillan, W. O., and Schroeder, B. (2008). Sex-specific migration patterns of hawksbill turtles breeding at Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Endangered Species Research 4, 85–94.
| Sex-specific migration patterns of hawksbill turtles breeding at Mona Island, Puerto Rico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vaudo, J. J., and Heithaus, M. R. (2009). Spatiotemporal variability in a sandflat elasmobranch fauna in Shark Bay, Australia. Marine Biology 156, 2579–2590.
| Spatiotemporal variability in a sandflat elasmobranch fauna in Shark Bay, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, D. I., Kendrick, G. A., and McComb, A. J. (1988). The distribution of seagrass species in Shark Bay, Western Australia, with notes on their ecology. Aquatic Botany 30, 305–317.
| The distribution of seagrass species in Shark Bay, Western Australia, with notes on their ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wand, M. P., and Jones, M. C. (1995). ‘Kernel Smoothing.’ (Chapman & Hall: London.)
Wirsing, A. J., Crane, K., Heithaus, M. R., Charles, D., and Dill, L. M. (2004). Pilot study of loggerhead turtles in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area: movements and community based conservation. Final report to the Department of the Environment and Heritage. Shark Bay District, Department of Conservation and Land Management, 89 Knight Terrace, Denham, WA.
Witt, M. J., Åkesson, S., Broderick, A. C., Coyne, M. S., Ellick, J., Formia, A., Hays, G. C., Luschi, P., Stroud, S., and Godley, B. J. (2010). Assessing accuracy and utility of satellite-tracking data using Argos-linked Fastloc-GPS. Animal Behaviour 80, 571–581.
| Assessing accuracy and utility of satellite-tracking data using Argos-linked Fastloc-GPS.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Worton, B. J. (1989). Kernel methods for estimating the utilization distribution in home-range studies. Ecology 70, 164–168.
| Kernel methods for estimating the utilization distribution in home-range studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zbinden, J. A., Aebischer, A., Margaritoulis, D., and Arlettaz, R. (2008). Important areas at sea for adult loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: satellite tracking corroborates findings from potentially biased sources. Marine Biology 153, 899–906.
| Important areas at sea for adult loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: satellite tracking corroborates findings from potentially biased sources.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
