Movement patterns of juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricate) at a Caribbean coral atoll: long-term tracking using passive acoustic telemetry

M G Chevis; B J Godley; J P Lewis; J J Lewis; Kylie L Scales; R T Graham

doi:10.3354/esr00812

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Movement patterns of juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricate) at a Caribbean coral atoll: long-term tracking using passive acoustic telemetry

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Movement patterns of juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricate) at a Caribbean coral atoll: long-term tracking using passive acoustic telemetry

M G Chevis, B J Godley, J P Lewis, J J Lewis, Kylie L Scales and R T Graham

Endangered Species Research, Vol.32, pp.309-319

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00812

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Abstract

Environmental Sciences

Biological Sciences

Understanding the ecological interactions that underlie marine ecosystem functioning requires sufficient data describing habitat utilization by mobile species. Hawksbill turtles are considered key species in coral reef-associated communities, owing to their specific foraging preferences, yet new information is still revealing details of the spatial and temporal aspects of habitat use. We used passive acoustic telemetry to monitor the movements of 18 juvenile hawksbills (CCLmin 32.0 - 59.7 cm, mean±SD = 43.9±6.7) at a developmental foraging site in the Mesoamerican barrier reef, Lighthouse Reef Atoll (LRA) in Belize (tracking duration 10 to 1414 d, mean±SD = 570±484). Though specific home ranges were difficult to quantify, several turtles showed high site fidelity over timescales of months to years, with occasional wide-ranging use of the atoll. Diel variation in the number of detections received strongly suggest nocturnal resting. Long term tracking data reveal 3 degrees of site fidelity across the atoll, based on the number of detection days near individual stations: high residency (n = 4), sequential residency (n = 5), and transient behavior (n = 4). These variations in movement raise questions about the differentiation of foraging habitats and degree of individual specialisation within this population, as well as the influences of microhabitats and human disturbance.

Details

Title: Movement patterns of juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricate) at a Caribbean coral atoll: long-term tracking using passive acoustic telemetry
Authors: M G Chevis (Author) - University of Exeter, United Kingdom
B J Godley (Author) - University of Exeter, United Kingdom
J P Lewis (Author) - International Conservation House, United States
J J Lewis (Author)
Kylie L Scales (Author) - University of California, United States
R T Graham (Author)
Publication details: Endangered Species Research, Vol.32, pp.309-319
Publisher: Inter-Research
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.3354/esr00812
ISSN: 1863-5407
Copyright note: Copyright © The authors 2017. Open Access under Creative Commons by Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are un - restricted. Authors and original publication must be credited.
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450438002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation

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