High-resolution movements of critically endangered hawksbill turtles help elucidate conservation requirements in northern Australia

摘要: Despite being critically endangered, the at-sea behaviour of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) remains insufficiently understood to support a global conservation strategy. Habitat location and spatial use are poorly documented, which is particularly true for globally important Australian population. We equipped 10 adult female nesting on Groote Eylandt, northern Australia, with Fastloc GPS Argos satellite transmitters. quantified fine-scale habitat area-restricted search behaviour, located potential feeding developmental habitats by simulating hatchling turtle dispersal patterns using particle-tracking hydrological model. During breeding season, females mostly remained near their site. Post-breeding, all migrated foraging sites continental shelf, primarily in Gulf Carpentaria coastal seagrass pastures, but also offshore coral-reef platforms. The distribution grounds was similar simulated from distant rookeries, thus highlighting ecological significance turtles. Although this population likely be endemic waters, national international initiatives required mitigate sources anthropogenic mortality (e.g. illegal tortoise-shell trade, incidental captures fishing gear, marine debris, seabed mining exploitation).