Tagging reveals limited exchange of immature loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) between regions in the western Mediterranean

Authors

  • Mónica Revelles Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona
  • Juan Antonio Camiñas Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga
  • Luis Cardona Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona
  • Mariluz Parga Marine Animal Rescue Center (CRAM)
  • Jesús Tomás Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia
  • Alex Aguilar Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona
  • Ferran Alegre Marine Animal Rescue Center (CRAM)
  • Antonio Raga Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia
  • Albert Bertolero Laboratoire de Biogéographie et Ecologie des Vertébrés, EPHE University of Montpellier
  • Guy Oliver Réseau Tortues marines de Méditerranée française, Laboratoire de Biophysique et Dynamique des Systèmes intégrés, University of Perpignan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2008.72n3511

Keywords:

biogeography, loggerhead sea turtle, capture-mark-recapture, flipper tags, dispersal, Mediterranean

Abstract


Exchange of immature loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) between the northern and southern regions of the western Mediterranean was investigated using data obtained from several Spanish tagging programmes. Tagged turtles ranged in straight carapace length from 23.0 to 74.0 cm. Thirty-six turtles were recaptured after an average interval of 390.5±462.6 days (SD). As the mean dispersal distance (MDD) of a turtle population that spreads over the western Mediterranean would stabilize after 117 days (CI 95%: 98 to 149), two analyses were conducted that included data from turtles recaptured after 98 and 149 days respectively. In both analyses, turtles were recaptured more often than expected in the same region where they had been tagged. No difference was found in either of the two regions between the average distance between the capture and recapture locations and the expected MDD if the turtles were to remain in the region where they were first captured. Turtles recaptured after 15 and 25 days respectively were excluded from the analysis to ensure data independence. The overall evidence indicates that immature turtles exhibit strong site fidelity to certain areas and that there is a strong barrier to dispersal between the northern and southern parts of the western Mediterranean. Therefore, loggerhead turtles in the western Mediterranean should be split into at least two management units.

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References

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Published

2008-09-30

How to Cite

1.
Revelles M, Camiñas JA, Cardona L, Parga M, Tomás J, Aguilar A, Alegre F, Raga A, Bertolero A, Oliver G. Tagging reveals limited exchange of immature loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) between regions in the western Mediterranean. Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2008Sep.30 [cited 2024Mar.29];72(3):511-8. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1008

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