A model for simulating the active dispersal of juvenile sea turtles with a case study on western Pacific leatherback turtles.

ABSTRACT: Oceanic currents are known to broadly shape the dispersal of juvenile sea turtles during their pelagic stage. Accordingly, simple passive drift models are widely used to investigate the distribution at sea of various juvenile sea turtle populations. However, evidence is growing that juveniles do not drift purely passively but also display some swimming activity likely directed towards favorable habitats. We therefore present here a novel Sea Turtle Active Movement Model (STAMM) in which juvenile sea turtles actively disperse under the combined effects of oceanic currents and habitat-driven movements. This model applies to all sea turtle species but is calibrated here for leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). It is first tested in a simulation of the active dispersal of juveniles orig

SUBMITTER: Gaspar P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5528265 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature