Modeling the active dispersal of juvenile leatherback turtles in the North Atlantic Ocean.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Northwest Atlantic (NWA) leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) subpopulation is one of the last healthy ones on Earth. Its conservation is thus of major importance for the conservation of the species itself. While adults are relatively well monitored, pelagic juveniles remain largely unobserved. In an attempt to reduce this knowledge gap, this paper presents the first detailed simulation of the open ocean dispersal of juveniles born on the main nesting beaches of French Guiana and Suriname (FGS).

Methods

Dispersal is simulated using STAMM, an Individual Based Model in which juveniles actively disperse under the combined effects of oceanic currents and habitat-driven movements. For comparison purposes, passive dispersal under the sole effect of ocean

SUBMITTER: Lalire M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6394021 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature