Predicted distributions and abundances of the sea turtle 'lost years' in the western North Atlantic Ocean

• Main Authors: Putman, N.F., Seney, E.E., /Verley, Philippe, Shaver, D.J., Lopez-Castro, M.C., Cook, M., Guzman, V., Brost, B., Ceriani, S.A., Gonzalez Diaz Miron, R. de J., Pena, L.J., Tzeek, M., Valverde, R.A., Canton, C.C.G., Howell, L., Ravell Ley, J.A., Tumlin, M.C., Teas, W.G., Caillouet Jr, C.W., Cuevas, E., Gallaway, B.J., Richards, P.M., Mansfield, K.L.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082007

Oceanic dispersal characterizes the early juvenile life-stages of numerous marine species of conservation concern. This early stage may be a 'critical period' for many species, playing an overriding role in population dynamics. Often, relatively little information is available on their distribution during this period, limiting the effectiveness of efforts to understand environmental and anthropogenic impacts on these species. Here we present a simple model to predict annual variation in the distribution and abundance of oceanic-stage juvenile sea turtles based on species'reproductive output, movement and mortality. We simulated dispersal of 25 cohorts (1993-2017) of oceanic-stage juveniles by tracking the movements of virtual hatchling sea turtles released in a hind-cast ocean circulation model. We then used estimates of annual hatchling production from Kemp's ridley Lepidochelys kempii (n = 3), green Chelonia mydas (n = 8) and loggerhead Caretta caretta (n = 5) nesting areas in the northwestern Atlantic (inclusive of the Oceanic dispersal characterizes the early juvenile life-stages of numerous marine species of conservation concern. This early stage may be a 'critical period' for many species, playing an overriding role in population dynamics. Often, relatively little information is available on their distribution during this period, limiting the effectiveness of efforts to understand environmental and anthropogenic impacts on these species. Here we present a simple model to predict annual variation in the distribution and abundance of oceanic-stage juvenile sea turtles based on species' reproductive output, movement and mortality. We simulated dispersal of 25 cohorts (1993-2017) of oceanic-stage juveniles by tracking the movements of virtual hatchling sea turtles released in a hind-cast ocean circulation model. We then used estimates of annual hatchling production from Kemp's ridley Lepidochelys kempii (n = 3), green Chelonia mydas (n = 8) and loggerhead Caretta caretta (n = 5) nesting areas in the ...