A model of area fidelity,nomadism, and distribution patterns of loggerhead sea turtles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Caretta caretta</Emphasis>) in the Mediterranean Sea |
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Authors: | Paolo Casale Daniela Freggi Roberto Basso Carola Vallini Roberto Argano |
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Institution: | (1) Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo, Università “La Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy;(2) Sea Turtle Rescue Centre WWF Italy, 92010 Lampedusa, Italy;(3) Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Jesolo, Via Bafile 172, 30017 Jesolo Lido, Italy;(4) A.R.C.H.E’, via Mulinetto, 40/A, 44100 Ferrara, Italy |
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Abstract: | Sea turtle tagging carried out in Italy in the period 1981–2006 resulted in 125 re-encounters of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) after a mean of 2.5 years, from different marine areas in the Mediterranean. At first finding, turtles ranged 25–83 cm of
curved carapace length. Data were analyzed according to size, area, habitat type, season, in order to provide indication of
movement patterns. When integrated with other information, results indicate that: (1) a part of turtles in the oceanic stage
show a nomad behavior with movements among different oceanic areas; (2) another part show fidelity to an oceanic area; (3)
turtles in the neritic stage show fidelity to neritic areas, and once settled to one area, change to other neritic areas is
unlikely; (4) nomad oceanic turtles are significantly larger than sedentary ones, and also larger than turtles found in neritic
areas; it is hypothesized that these could be Atlantic turtles that eventually leave the Mediterranean; (5) ecological transition
from oceanic to neritic habitats occurs at a wide range of sizes, and some turtles may have a very brief oceanic stage; (6)
turtles in the oceanic stage are more likely to recruit to neritic areas close to their oceanic areas than to distant ones;
(7) part of turtles from some Mediterranean nesting beaches might frequent a relatively limited area range, including both
oceanic and neritic areas; (8) in most of the Mediterranean, latitudinal seasonal migrations are unlikely. A general model
of movement patterns of loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean is proposed. |
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