Long-term and seasonal patterns of sea turtle home ranges in warm coastal foraging habitats: implications for conservation

摘要: Home range analysis is a powerful tool for identifying priority areas conservation, but estimating the home many species still challenging. In particular, highly mobile may use different at times (e.g. summer or winter), so temporally biased location data only partially represent their range. We investigated temporal patterns in habitat of green turtles Chelonia mydas (n = 52) and loggerhead Caretta caretta 20) longer (>1 yr) shorter (<1 scales. The study was conducted subtropical tropical foraging habitats along Queensland coast Australia between 1991 2015. Each turtle tracked by satellite-linked tag effective life device; 3 were twice. Mark-recapture studies also intermittently. Single satellite-tag deployments confirmed site fidelity to up 2.5 yr 2.7 turtles. Further, combining satellite telemetry mark-recapture records indicated much periods residency, 17 23 No made substantial changes years. Within long-term range, tended shift seasonally. Consequently, turtles, existing conservation legislation provided protection some seasons not others. Our results emphasise importance protecting according turtles’ space, with careful consideration given identify trends selection.