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Migration routes, foraging behavior, and site fidelity of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) satellite tracked from a globally important rookery

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Abstract

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, USA (27.946°N, − 80.494°W) represents one of the largest loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting sites in the Western Hemisphere. Surprisingly, little work has been conducted to determine females’ post-nesting migratory behavior and characteristics of their foraging areas. Between 2008 and 2017, satellite telemetry was used to trace the locations and movements of 45 post-nesting loggerhead turtles. A switching state-space model was employed to estimate the behavioral state of each location. Internesting, migrating and foraging activity periods were determined for 38 loggerheads based on the SSSM. Seven environmental variables were extracted from remote sensing imagery for each location to compare values among behaviors. Core primary foraging areas ranged in size from 5.89 to 4572.80 km2. Four foraging types (primary, secondary, seasonal, and loops) were observed. Most turtles resided at a primary foraging area year round. A few individuals conducted foraging loops away from a primary foraging area. Both seasonal and loop movements were associated with changes in sea surface temperature as turtles moved to avoid temperatures that could cause cold-stunning or mortality. Turtle size and nesting beach offshore currents may play a role in foraging area selection, and date of departure from the nesting beach may be linked to foraging destination. By making the connection among oceanic features, foraging areas, and the influence of environmental variables on these areas, it is possible to identify and characterize critically important feeding areas and migration corridors for loggerheads nesting on the east coast of Florida.

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The datasets from the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank D. Bagley, B. Witherington, R. Smith, A. Savage, N. Evans, M. Ayers, students from the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida, the staff and volunteers of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the Brevard County Barrier Island Center, and the Disney’s Vero Beach Resort for assistance with satellite deployments at the ACNWR. We thank the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge Managers for supporting our research. We would also like to thank Blair Witherington for providing comments on this manuscript. This study was performed under the authorization of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Turtle Permits #025 (2008–2012) and #133 (2013–2017). Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Funding

This work was supported by several grants awarded from the Sea Turtle Grants Program (09-055R, 10-020R, 10-023R, 11-021R, 12-015R, 13-016E, 14-016E). The Sea Turtle Grants Program is funded from proceeds from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate. Learn more at http://www.helpingseaturtles.org. Additional funding for satellite transmitters was provided by Shark Reef Aquarium, Disney Conservation Fund, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Vacation Club, Disney Cruise Lines, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Little Tikes, Disney’s Friends for Change, Saint Edward’s School, The Body Shop Foundation, John’s Island Real Estate Company, PacSafe, and Ripley’s Aquariums.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sea Turtle Conservancy, 4581 NW 6th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL, 32609, USA

    Daniel R. Evans

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Florida, Box 110485, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Raymond R. Carthy

  3. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

    Simona A. Ceriani

  4. Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Simona A. Ceriani

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  1. Daniel R. Evans
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Correspondence to Daniel R. Evans.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. Satellite telemetry methodology was approved under the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Marine Turtle Permits #025 and #133).

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Evans, D.R., Carthy, R.R. & Ceriani, S.A. Migration routes, foraging behavior, and site fidelity of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) satellite tracked from a globally important rookery. Mar Biol 166, 134 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3583-4

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