Satellite Tracking of Head-Started Juvenile Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) Reveals Release Effects and an Ontogenetic Shift.

ABSTRACT: Juveniles of marine species, such as sea turtles, are often understudied in movement ecology. To determine dispersal patterns and release effects, we released 40 satellite-tagged juvenile head-started green turtles (Chelonia mydas, 1-4 years) from two separate locations (January and July 2023) off the coast of the Cayman Islands. A statistical model and vector plots were used to determine drivers of turtle directional swimming persistence and the role of ocean current direction. More than half (N = 22) effectively dispersed in 6-22 days from the islands to surrounding areas. The January turtles radiated out (185-1138 km) in distinct directions in contrast to the northward dispersal of the July turtles (27-396 km). Statistical results and vector plots supported that daily swim

SUBMITTER: Barbour N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10093175 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature