Journal article
Rookery contributions, movements and conservation needs of hawksbill turtles at foraging grounds in the eastern Pacific Ocean
Marine Ecology - Progress Series , Vol.586, pp.203-216
2018
Abstract
Understanding the spatial ecology of wide-ranging marine species is fundamental to advancing ecological research and species management. For marine turtles, genetic studies using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers have proven invaluable to characterize movement, particularly between rookeries (i.e. nesting sites) and foraging grounds. Hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata are a globally threatened species whose conservation status is particularly precarious in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Recent research in the region has identified unique life history characteristics, including highly restricted movements, the use of mangrove estuaries for foraging and nesting, as well as a regional pattern of natal foraging philopatry (NFP). For this study, we used mtDNA sequences and mixed-stock analysis of hawksbills from 8 designated foraging grounds and 5 primary rookeries to evaluate stock composition at each foraging ground, assess how stock contributions are affected by the NFP life history strategy, and search for evidence of unidentified rookeries. Although we found evidence supporting the NFP pattern at most foraging grounds, results indicated important site-specific variability at particular foraging grounds. We also found discrepancies among the haplotype frequencies of several foraging grounds and rookeries, as well as the presence of several orphan haplotypes, suggesting undiscovered hawksbill rookeries likely remain in the eastern Pacific. Our findings contextualize the prevalence and scale of the NFP life history strategy and provide insights that can be directly applied to future ecological research and species management and conservation.
Details
- Title
- Rookery contributions, movements and conservation needs of hawksbill turtles at foraging grounds in the eastern Pacific Ocean
- Authors
- Alexander R Gaos (Author) - San Diego State UniversityRebecca L Lewison (Author) - San Diego State UniversityMark P Jensen (Author) - National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationMichael J Liles (Author) - The University of Texas at El PasoAna Henriquez (Author) - ProCostaSofia Chavarria (Author) - ProCostaCarlos Mario Pacheco (Author) - ProCostaMelissa Valle (Author) - ProCostaDavid Melero (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeVelkiss Gadea (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeEduardo Altamirano (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativePerla Torres (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeFelipe Vallejo (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeCristina Miranda (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeCarolina LeMarie (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeJesus Lucero (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeKaren Oceguera (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeDidiher Chacon (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeLuis Fonseca (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeMarino Abrego (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeJeffrey A Seminoff (Author) - National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationEric E. Flores (Author)Israel Llamas (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeRodrigo Donadi (Author) - World Wildlife FundBernardo Pena (Author)Juan Pablo Muñoz (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de QuitoDaniela Alarcón Ruales (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de QuitoJaime A Chaves (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de QuitoSarah Otterstrom (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeAlan Zavala (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeCatherine E. Hart (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeRachel Brittain (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeJoanna Alfaro-Shigueto (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeJeffrey C Mangel (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativeIngrid L Yanez (Author) - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill InitiativePeter Dutton (Author) - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Publication details
- Marine Ecology - Progress Series , Vol.586, pp.203-216
- Publisher
- Inter-Research
- DOI
- 10.3354/meps12391
- ISSN
- 1616-1599
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99640778002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
4 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Ecology
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- Oceanography
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites