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TURTLES: Effects of swimming behaviour and oceanography on sea turtle hatchling dispersal
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Overview
The knowledge gap regarding the early life-history of sea turtles during the “lost years” continues to hinder research and conservation at this critical life stage when mortality rates are the highest.
An oceanic model was used in combination with a Lagrangian particle tracking framework to simulate and identify potential post-hatchling dispersal trajectories of loggerhead and leatherback turtles in the South Western Indian Ocean.
The study aimed to investigate the effect of hatchling swimming behaviour on hatchling dispersal and survival probability.
To our knowledge, this study provides the first estimate of neonate sea turtle dispersal in the SWIO by combining a particle tracking model, using the Copernicus ocean surface current data, with in situ hatchling behavioural data.
• DGFI is a geodetic research institution that is a part of the Technical University of Munich
Products used
GLOBAL OCEAN PHYSICS REANALYSIS
• We used the Copernicus Marine data to demonstrate the trajectories of juvenile turtles in the South Indian
Ocean.
Benefits for users
• This fills a gap in the understanding of what happens to juvenile turtles after they hatch.
Useful links
• German Geodetic Research Institute - DGFI- TUM Official Website
• More information about the particle tracking framework
• Publication: Effects of swimming behaviour and oceanography on sea turtle hatchling dispersal at the intersection of two ocean current systems
