engleski

Foraging grounds, movement patterns and habitat connectivity of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the Adriatic Sea revealed by satellite telemetry

Knowledge about migratory routes and highly frequented areas is a priority for sea turtle conservation, but the movement patterns of juveniles frequenting the Adriatic, that represent the bulk of the population, have not been investigated yet. We tracked by satellite six juvenile and one adult female loggerheads from the north Adriatic. The results indicate that loggerhead juveniles (i) can either show a residential behaviour remaining in the Adriatic throughout the year or perform seasonal migrations to other areas, (ii) can remain even in the coldest, northernmost area during winter, (iii) can frequent relatively small foraging areas at least in some periods, (iv) mostly frequent the eastern part of the Adriatic, (v) follow preferred migratory routes along the western and eastern Adriatic coasts. The movements of the adult turtle revealed (vi) a behavioural polymorphism in Mediterranean adults too, which includes lack of area fidelity and connection between distant neritic foraging grounds.

satellite tracking; migration; fidelity; overwintering; Caretta caretta; Adriatic Sea

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