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

Type Article
Date 2020-10
Language English
Author(s) Siegwalt Flora1, Benhamou Simon2, 3, Girondot Marc4, Jeantet Lorène1, Martin Jordan1, Bonola Marc1, Lelong Pierre1, Grand Clément1, Chambault Philippine5, Benhalilou Abdelwahab6, Murgale Céline6, Maillet Thomas6, Andreani Lucas6, Campistron Guilhem6, Jacaria François6, Hielard Gaëlle7, Arqué Alexandre7, Etienne Denis8, Gresser Julie8, Régis Sidney1, Lecerf Nicolas1, Frouin Cédric1, Lefebvre Fabien9, Aubert Nathalie9, Vedie Fabien8, Barnerias Cyrille8, Thieulle Laurent1, Guimera Christelle1, Bouaziz Myriam1, Pinson Adrien10, Flora Frédéric1, George Francis11, Eggenspieler Joffrey11, Woignier Thierry12, Allenou Jean-PierreORCID13, Louis-Jean Laurent14, Chanteur Bénédicte14, Béranger Christelle14, Crillon Jessica15, Brador Aude15, Habold Caroline1, Le Maho Yvon1, Robin Jean Patrice1, Chevallier Damien1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue Becquerel, 67000 Strasbourg, France
2 : Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France
3 : Cogitamus Lab, France
4 : Laboratoire Écologie, Systématique, Évolution, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France
5 : UMR MARBEC, IFREMER, CNRS, IRD, University of Montpellier, avenue Jean Monnet, 34200 Sète, France
6 : Association POEMM, 73 lot papayers, Anse à l'âne, 97229 Les Trois Ilets, France
7 : Office de l'Eau Martinique, 7 avenue Condorcet, 97200 Fort-de-France, France
8 : DEAL Martinique, Pointe de Jaham, 97274 Schœlcher, France
9 : Association ACWAA, rue grand fleur, quartier Epinay, 97228 Sainte-Luce, France
10 : Surfrider Foundation Europe Martinique, France
11 : ONF International, 78 route de Moutte, 97207 Fort-de-France, France
12 : Aix Marseille University, University Avignon, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, 13397 Marseille, France
13 : IFREMER Délégation de Martinique, 79 route de Pointe-Fort, 97231 Le Robert, France
14 : PNR Martinique, Maison du Parc, 97205 Fort-de-France, France
15 : Parc naturel marin de Martinique, Office Français de la Biodiversité, 97233 Schœlcher, France
Source Biological Conservation (0006-3207) (Elsevier BV), 2020-10 , Vol. 250 , P. 108742 (8p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108742
WOS© Times Cited 16
Keyword(s) Green turtle, Habitat use, Home range, Residency, Developmental area, Seagrass
Abstract

Movement ecology studies are essential to protect highly mobile threatened species such as the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), classified as an endangered species by the IUCN. In 2019, the South Atlantic subpopulation has been downlisted to ‘Least Concern’, but the maintenance of this status strongly relies on the pursuit of research and conservation, especially on immatures, which contribute to the demographic renewal of this subpopulation. Identifying marine areas used by immatures is therefore crucial to implement efficient measures for the conservation of sea turtles in the Caribbean. We analysed data of capture-mark-recapture of 107 (out of 299) immatures recaptured at least once in Martinique, and satellite tracked 24 immatures to investigate their site fidelity and habitat use. Our results revealed a strong fidelity to foraging grounds, with mean residence times higher than 2 years, and with a high degree of affinity for specific areas within the coastal marine vegetation strip. Home ranges (95% kernel contour) and core areas (50% kernel contour) varied from 0.17 to 235.13 km2 (mean ± SD = 30.73 ± 54.34 km2) and from 0.03 to 22.66 km2 (mean ± SD = 2.95 ± 5.06 km2), respectively. Our findings shed light on a critical developmental area for immature green turtles in the French West Indies, and should help to refine Regional Management Units and reinforce the cooperative network aiming at ensuring conservation of the species at international scale.

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Siegwalt Flora, Benhamou Simon, Girondot Marc, Jeantet Lorène, Martin Jordan, Bonola Marc, Lelong Pierre, Grand Clément, Chambault Philippine, Benhalilou Abdelwahab, Murgale Céline, Maillet Thomas, Andreani Lucas, Campistron Guilhem, Jacaria François, Hielard Gaëlle, Arqué Alexandre, Etienne Denis, Gresser Julie, Régis Sidney, Lecerf Nicolas, Frouin Cédric, Lefebvre Fabien, Aubert Nathalie, Vedie Fabien, Barnerias Cyrille, Thieulle Laurent, Guimera Christelle, Bouaziz Myriam, Pinson Adrien, Flora Frédéric, George Francis, Eggenspieler Joffrey, Woignier Thierry, Allenou Jean-Pierre, Louis-Jean Laurent, Chanteur Bénédicte, Béranger Christelle, Crillon Jessica, Brador Aude, Habold Caroline, Le Maho Yvon, Robin Jean Patrice, Chevallier Damien (2020). 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. Biological Conservation, 250, 108742 (8p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108742 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00644/75651/