Satellite telemetry reveals: different behavioural patterns for three juvenile loggerhead turtles tagged at a foraging ground in Albania.
Introduction The Albanian coast has received very little attention in the past regarding sea turtle populations. In the Balkans, sea turtle nesting is monitored in Greece, while foraging and overwintering habitats are monitored in Croatia and Slovenia. Turtles passing through Albania’s coastal and offshore waters when migrating between habitats in these three countries and their interaction with fishing activities have been poorly monitored until now. In order to investigate the migration and marine distribution of turtles found in Albanian waters, 3 loggerhead turtles (two males and one female) were fitted with transmitters during MEDASSET’s (Mediterranean Association to save the Sea Turtles) three-year study (2008-2010) of turtles captured as by-catch at an important foraging ground, Drini Bay, Northern Albania White et al. 2011). We aimed to determine their movements and habitat use by contrasting and comparing inter-annual movements and behavioural patterns hence identifying important marine habitats for juvenile loggerhead turtles.
Turtle
Sex
Release date
At large (d)
No. locations
Last location
Shpresa
Release Location Patok
04/11/2010*
Distance travelled (km) 229
Displacement (km) 1
12/09/2009
211
167
Guximtari
Patok
12/09/2009
763
1233
15/10/2011
3854
_
Patoku
Patok
12/09/2009
424
367
11/10/2010
1384
39
Conclusion Loggerheads demonstrate seasonal’ migrations between summer and winter coastal as well as site fidelity to Albanian coastal environments. Juvenile turtle overwintering strategies have been proven to utilise the coastal environments of Croatia and Corfu. Drini Bay is an important summer foraging ground for loggerheads; the benthos is rich in food resources (White et al. 2011). Drini Bay inter-annual home range fidelity for (n=2) male juvenile turtles is within a 3 – 14 km area. Male sea turtles may use Drini Bay as a developmental and foraging habitat, This has increased importance due to our presently limited understanding of the distribution and marine ecology of male sea turtles.. Proposals for Drini Bay to be recognised as a nationality and regionally important foraging and developmental habitat for sea turtles in the Mediterranean, and that these endangered species are fully protected under Albanian national law (White et al. 2010,2011).
Acknowledgements: We acknowledge the use of the Maptool programme (www.seaturtle.org). Literature: Coyne MS, Godley BJ (2005) Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool (STAT): an integrated system for archiving, analysing and mapping animal tracking data. MEPS 301:1-7; White M, Boura L, Venizelos L (2010) An overview of MEDASSET’s role in sea turtle research and conservation in Albania. Testudo 7(2): 43-54.; White M, Boura L, Venizelos L (2011) MEDASSET’s three year project: Monitoring and conservation of Important Sea Turtle Feeding Grounds in the Patok Area of Albania 2008-2010. Project Report.