Fidelity to foraging sites after long migrations

Abstract

Patterns of animal movement associated with foraging lie at the heart of many ecological studies and often animals face decisions of staying in an environment they know versus relocating to new sites. The lack of knowledge of new foraging sites means there is risk associated with a decision to relocate (e.g. poor foraging) as well as a potential benefit (e.g. improved foraging). Using a unique long‐term satellite tracking dataset for several sea turtle species, combined with capture–mark–recapture data extending over 50 years, we show how, across species, individuals generally maintain tight fidelity to specific foraging sites after extended (up to almost 10,000 km) migration to and from distant breeding sites as well as across many decades. Migrating individuals often travelled through suitable foraging areas en route to their ‘home’ site and so extended their journeys to maintain foraging site fidelity. We explore the likely mechanistic underpinnings of this trait, which is also seen in some migrating birds, and suggest that individuals will forgo areas of suitable forage encountered en route during migration when they have poor knowledge of the long‐term suitability of those sites, making relocation to those sites risky.

Social media reveals consistently disproportionate tourism pressure on a threatened marine vertebrate

“…Previous telemetry studies (Dujon et al, 2018) and long-term direct in-water observations confirm high utilization of this part of the bay by residents (Papafitsoros and Schofield, 2016). Fidelity to foraging sites has been widely recorded in sea turtle species (Limpus et al, 1992;Broderick et al, 2007;Rees et al, 2013;Shimada et al, 2020). Other species also exhibit high fidelity to certain foraging or breeding locations (e.g.…”

High fidelity of sea turtles to their foraging grounds revealed by satellite tracking and capture-mark-recapture: New insights for the establishment of key marine conservation areas

“…According to the literature, 0.1 to 9% of immature green turtles are recaptured in sites different from where they were marked (usually tens to hundreds of km apart), thus possibly using several foraging grounds (Bjorndal et al, 2005;Colman et al, 2015;Gallo et al, 2006;Godley et al, 2003;Moncada et al, 2006;Patrício et al, 2011;Senko et al, 2010). Foraging sites philopatry has been evidenced in several species of sea turtles and across lifestages, with some adults returning after breeding migrations to the foraging areas they already used as immatures (Shimada et al, 2020). Green turtles may maintain tight fidelity to foraging grounds for multiple reasons (Broderick et al, 2007;Moran and Bjorndal, 2007;Shimada et al, 2020).…”

“…Foraging sites philopatry has been evidenced in several species of sea turtles and across lifestages, with some adults returning after breeding migrations to the foraging areas they already used as immatures (Shimada et al, 2020). Green turtles may maintain tight fidelity to foraging grounds for multiple reasons (Broderick et al, 2007;Moran and Bjorndal, 2007;Shimada et al, 2020). They seem to adopt a low-risk strategy, ensuring their long-term survival by staying in familiar environments (Schofield et al, 2010;Shimada et al, 2020).…”

“…Green turtles may maintain tight fidelity to foraging grounds for multiple reasons (Broderick et al, 2007;Moran and Bjorndal, 2007;Shimada et al, 2020). They seem to adopt a low-risk strategy, ensuring their long-term survival by staying in familiar environments (Schofield et al, 2010;Shimada et al, 2020).…”

“…However, few studies have used both CMR and satellite-tracking to investigate site fidelity in sea turtles (e.g. Godley et al, 2003;Shimada et al, 2020). In Martinique, the year-round and restricted distribution of green turtles over the coastal region of 'Les Anses d'Arlet' combined with a high turtle abundance and intense tourism activity should foster the delineation of Marine Protected Areas in consultation with sea stakeholders, which would certainly be profitable for many other species.…”