Shared habitat use by juveniles of three sea turtle species

Lamont, Margaret M.; Iverson, Autumn R.

doi:10.3354/meps12748

Cited by 26 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…In a study carried out in Palm Beach along the Atlantic coast of Florida (Makowski et al, 2006), home range size of tracked juvenile green turtles (95% UD = 2.09 ± 1.80 km 2 ; 50% UD = 0.49 ± 0.39 km 2 ) was substantially smaller than green turtles tracked from CR in our study (95% UD = 24.3 ± 9.8 km 2 ; 50% UD = 4.4 ± 1.3 km 2 ), which could be attributed to differences in habitat structure and composition (e.g., algae-rich in Palm Beach vs. seagrass beds in CR). Nevertheless, in the context of foraging grounds within the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), our results support the findings of Lamont and Iverson (2018) regarding similarities in home range size between CC and CM, as well as the larger home ranges recorded for LK. One CM (ID 142708) and several LK displayed more dynamic behaviors, occasionally moving longer distances between patches.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…In contrast, LK and CC of equivalent size are more abundant in the oyster reefs at Cedar Key (Schmid, 1998;Schmid and Barichivich, 2005), located just ∼50 km north of CR. Captures in the CR region demonstrate a spatial overlap in the distribution of immature life stages during the summer months; a similar degree of spatial overlap of the same three marine turtle species was also recently reported at two other foraging grounds (St. Joseph and St. Andrew Bays) in the northern GoM (Lamont and Iverson, 2018). Moreover, additional records of captures at CR outside our study period also include some adult CM and CC (Marine Turtle Research Ecology and Conservation Group database, Florida State University, unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…One CM (ID 142708) and several LK displayed more dynamic behaviors, occasionally moving longer distances between patches. Similar behaviors have also been reported for CM, LK, and CC in the northern GoM (Lamont and Iverson, 2018), and for LK in Cedar Key (north of CR) (Schmid et al, 2003), and have been attributed to turtles potentially searching for more favorable foraging areas. Combined, the results of these studies show consistent species-specific patterns in the foraging behavior of juvenile marine turtles in nearshore coastal habitats along the eastern and northern GoM and could provide useful evidence to inform management guidelines for other areas supporting all three species along this coastline.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

“…Extended efforts have been undertaken in this region to generate and compile biological and ecological information of marine turtles in foraging habitats (see review in Eaton et al, 2008). Even though the co-existence of multiple marine species is well documented in the region (Eaton et al, 2008;Hart et al, 2018;Lamont and Iverson, 2018), studies on the habitat use have typically focused on a single species (e.g., Schmid, 2000;Makowski et al, 2006;Bresette et al, 2010;Foley et al, 2014). Consequently, there is a substantial body of knowledge on the distribution, movement and habitat use of juvenile CM and LK in several locations along Florida's coast (Carr and Caldwell, 1956;Mendonça, 1983;Ogren, 1989;Rudloe et al, 1991;Renaud, 1995;Barichivich et al, 1998;Schmid, 1998Schmid, , 2000Schmid and Barichivich, 2005;Barichivich, 2006;Makowski et al, 2006;Schmid and Witzell, 2006;Bresette et al, 2010;IRG, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, there is a substantial body of knowledge on the distribution, movement and habitat use of juvenile CM and LK in several locations along Florida's coast (Carr and Caldwell, 1956;Mendonça, 1983;Ogren, 1989;Rudloe et al, 1991;Renaud, 1995;Barichivich et al, 1998;Schmid, 1998Schmid, , 2000Schmid and Barichivich, 2005;Barichivich, 2006;Makowski et al, 2006;Schmid and Witzell, 2006;Bresette et al, 2010;IRG, 2012). Less is known about juvenile CC distribution and habitat use in coastal habitats of Florida (Mendonça and Ehrhart, 1982;Eaton et al, 2008;Lamont and Iverson, 2018), with one of the remaining geographic gaps in in-water research encompassing the southern Big Bend region in northwest peninsular Florida [Northeastern Gulf of Mexico (NeGM)] (Eaton et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat Use and Behavior of Multiple Species of Marine Turtles at a Foraging Area in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2019

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Multi-species conservation strategies can be useful to maximize allocation of resources. To effectively plan for multi-species management practices, it is important to have a robust understanding of the variability in the spatial and behavioral ecology of sympatric species. To address this in the context of marine turtles, this study explored fine-scale habitat use by three sympatric species [juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta)] in a foraging area near Crystal River, Florida, United States. By combining sighting surveys and satellite tracking methods, we found that the distribution of the three species of marine turtles in this region overlapped both in space and time. We also observed differences in the fine-scale location of hotspots and in-water behavior among species, with some degree of apparent habitat partitioning. Habitat partitioning was particularly evident when assessing the diving and surfacing behavior of tracked turtles, with some degree of differentiation in diel diving patterns, particularly depths utilized during daytime/nighttime and the dive/surface duration. Our study provides ecological baseline data on the spatial overlap, habitat use and behavior of three sympatric marine turtle species, which can inform future management strategies at nearshore marine habitats in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat Use and Behavior of Multiple Species of Marine Turtles at a Foraging Area in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2019

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Isotopic niche overlap among foraging marine turtle species in the Gulf of Mexico

Weber,

Cullen,

Fuentes

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Sympatric species may overlap in their use of habitat and dietary resources, which can increase competition. Comparing the ecological niches and quantifying the degree of niche overlap among these species can provide insights into the extent of resource overlap. This information can be used to guide multispecies management approaches tailored to protect priority habitats that offer the most resources for multiple species. Stable isotope analysis is a valuable tool used to investigate spatial and trophic niches, though few studies have employed this method for comparisons among sympatric marine turtle species. For this study, stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope values from epidermis tissue were used to quantify isotopic overlap and compare isotopic niche size in loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) turtles sampled from a shared foraging area located offshore of Crystal River, Florida, USA. Overall, the results revealed high degrees of isotopic overlap (>68%) among species, particularly between loggerhead and Kemp's ridley turtles (85 to 91%), which indicates there may be interspecific competition for resources. Samples from green turtles had the widest range of isotopic values, indicating they exhibit higher variability in diet and habitat type. Samples from loggerhead turtles had the most enriched mean δ34S, suggesting they may forage in slightly different micro‐environments compared with the other species. Finally, samples from Kemp's ridley turtles exhibited the smallest niche size, which is indicative of a narrower use of resources. This is one of the first studies to investigate resource use in a multispecies foraging aggregation of marine turtles using three isotopic tracers. These findings provide a foundation for future research into the foraging ecology of sympatric marine turtle species and can be used to inform effective multispecies management efforts.

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Capture vulnerability of sea turtles on recreational fishing piers

Lamont

Mollenhauer

Foley

2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Capture vulnerability of commercial and recreational fishes has been associated with behavioral, morphological, and life‐history traits; however, relationships with non‐target species, such as sea turtles, have not been adequately studied. We examined species composition, timing of captures, morphological variables including body size and head width, and body condition of sea turtles captured from a recreational fishing pier in the northern Gulf of Mexico and of sea turtles captured in the waters adjacent to the pier. From 2014 to 2019, 148 net captures and 112 pier captures of three sea turtle species were documented. Green turtles were captured most frequently in the net and on the pier. Turtles captured from the pier were larger than those captured in the net. There was no difference in head width between net‐caught and pier‐caught turtles; however, small sample sizes limited those comparisons. The body condition index was lower for pier‐caught than net‐caught Kemp’;s ridleys but did not differ with green turtles or loggerheads. Differences were also observed in the timing of capture on the pier as compared to in the net. Finally, the relationship between size, body condition, and pier‐capture vulnerability suggests these are complex interactions. Mortality of sea turtles captured from fishing piers could be selecting against bolder individuals, which may result in changes in sea turtle population demographics over a long time period.

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Shared habitat use by juveniles of three sea turtle species

Cited by 26 publications

References 86 publications

Habitat Use and Behavior of Multiple Species of Marine Turtles at a Foraging Area in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

Habitat Use and Behavior of Multiple Species of Marine Turtles at a Foraging Area in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

Isotopic niche overlap among foraging marine turtle species in the Gulf of Mexico

Capture vulnerability of sea turtles on recreational fishing piers

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