Global analysis of satellite tracking data shows that adult green turtles are significantly aggregated in Marine Protected Areas |
| |
| Authors: | David J Hodgson Matthew J Witt Michael S Coyne Windia Adnyana Janice M Blumenthal Annette C Broderick Ali Fuat Canbolat Paulo Catry Stephane Ciccione Eric Delcroix Creusa Hitipeuw Paolo Luschi L Pet‐Soede Kellie Pendoley Peter B Richardson Alan F Rees Brendan J Godley |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK;2. Seaturtle.org, 1 Southampton Place, Durham, NC 27705, USA;3. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Kampus Bukit Jimbaran – Badung, Bali, Indonesia;4. Department of Environment, Box 486, Grand Cayman, KY1‐1106 Cayman Islands;5. Department of Biology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, 06532 Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey;6. Eco‐ethology Research Unit and Centro de Biociências, ISPA, 1149‐041 Lisboa, Portugal;7. Kelonia, 46 Rue du G.?de Gaulle, 97436 Saint Leu La Reunion;8. Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Cit E9 Guillard, Chemin des Bougainvilliers, 97100 Basse‐Terre, Guadeloupe FWI;9. WWF‐Indonesia, Kantor Taman A9, Unit A‐1, Kawasan Mega Kuningan, Jakarta 12950, Indonesia;10. Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, I‐56126 Pisa, Italy;11. World Wide Fund for Nature – Coral Triangle Program Leader, Jalan Raya Petitenget 22, Kerobokan, Bali;12. Pendoley Environmental Pty Ltd, Level 1, 61 Kishorn Rd, Mt Pleasant, WA 6153, Australia;13. Marine Conservation Society, Unit 3, Wolf Business Park, Ross‐on‐Wye, Herefordshire HR9 5NB, UK;14. ARCHELON, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, Solomou 57, GR‐104 32, Athens, Greece |
| |
| Abstract: | Aim Tracking technologies are often proposed as a method to elucidate the complex migratory life histories of migratory marine vertebrates, allowing spatially explicit threats to be identified and mitigated. We conducted a global analysis of foraging areas of adult green turtles (Chelonia mydas) subject to satellite tracking (n= 145) and the conservation designation of these areas according to International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria. Location The green turtle has a largely circumtropical distribution, with adults migrating up to thousands of kilometres between nesting beaches and foraging areas, typically in neritic seagrass or algal beds. Methods We undertook an assessment of satellite tracking projects that followed the movements of green turtles in tropical and subtropical habitats. This approach was facilitated by the use of the Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool ( http://www.seaturtle.org ) and the integration of publicly available data on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Results We show that turtles aggregate in designated MPAs far more than would be expected by chance when considered globally (35% of all turtles were located within MPAs) or separately by ocean basin (Atlantic 67%, Indian 34%, Mediterranean 19%, Pacific 16%). Furthermore, we show that the size, level of protection and time of establishment of MPAs affects the likelihood of MPAs containing foraging turtles, highlighting the importance of large, well‐established reserves. Main conclusions Our findings constitute compelling evidence of the world‐wide effectiveness of extant MPAs in circumscribing important foraging habitats for a marine megavertebrate. |
| |
| Keywords: | Chelonia mydas foraging marine megavertebrate Marine Protected Area satellite tracking sea turtle |
|
|
