LEATHERBACK TURTLE FORAGING HABITATS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC: IMPLICATIONS FOR FISHERIES INTERACTIONS
PI: Amanda Southwood and David Kirby
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The primary objective of our study is to characterize the foraging habitat of leatherback turtles in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The search for food is a primary component of the long-distance migrations undertaken by leatherback turtles, therefore the
identification of ocean features and environmental conditions associated with successful foraging may prove useful for
understanding and predicting leatherback turtle movements and distribution, as well as the potential for interactions with
fisheries. Our specific project objectives are to 1)Use a combination of physiological sensors and satellite transmitters to
monitor leatherback turtle movements, diving patterns, and feeding behavior during the initial stages of post-nesting migration
and during residency at temperate foraging grounds, 2) Incorporate physiological and behavioral data obtained from satellite
transmitters with environmental data obtained from satellite remote sensing to characterize the oceanographic features and
local conditions associated with successful foraging, and 3)Develop integrative models to analyze fishing effort in relation to
leatherback turtle foraging habitat and predict the likelihood of fisheries encounters. In addition to elucidating foraging
patterns, this information will contribute greatly to our understanding of the leatherback turtle’s thermoregulatory capabilities,
thermal preferences and limitations.
Progress during the first six months:
The satellite transmitters (Mk10-AL, Wildlife Computers) that we plan to use to relay information on leatherback turtle body
temperatures are still in the development stage and field trials with species of marine mammals are underway this fall. According
to the manufacturer the instruments will not be available for us to purchase until Spring 2007. For this reason, our field trials
are delayed and we were unable to deploy instruments during the summer of 2006 as we had hoped to do. The physiological sensors
(STP3, Wildlife Computers) that we will use to monitor internal temperatures and feeding events in leatherback turtles will be
available for purchase in February 2007. We have placed orders for these instruments and plan to conduct in-lab calibrations and
simulations of feeding events to characterize patterns that we may observe/record in freely swimming turtles. Data from our in-lab
simulations will provide us with valuable information to better interpret the field data. We applied for and received IACUC approval
from UNCW to conduct our proposed field studies, and have been co-ordinating with Dr. Lutcavage and her team to obtain the proper
approval from NOAA for deployment of satellite tags and physiological sensors on leatherback turtles in U.S. waters.
Plans for the next six months to year:
We plan to complete our in-lab calibrations and simulations with physiological sensors during Winter – Spring 2007.
Instruments and gear for field deployments will be purchased during Winter – Spring 2007. Field deployments on nesting
leatherback turtles at Culebra, Puerto Rico will take place during Spring – Summer 2007, and analysis of satellite
transmissions and physiological data will take place during Summer – Fall 2007. I plan to take on a graduate student
for the 2007-2008 academic year. This student will participate in our leatherback turtle research program and I will begin
training this student in Fall 2007.
