Tracking the sea turtle "lost years": early dispersal, survival, foraging ecology and habitat use of oceanic stage sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico

The objectives of this project are to use both an empirical (satellite telemetry, oceanic drifters) and theoretical modeling approach to: 1) provide refined survival rates for oceanic juvenile sea turtles in the GOM; 2) quantify the fine-scale habitat use, movements and dispersal of oceanic stage sea turtles; 3) characterize the in-water habitats and foraging ecology of oceanic stage sea turtles; and 4) quantify and model active vs. passive behavior of the smallest oceanic turtles.

Juvenile oceanic developmental and foraging habitats are not defined for any federally protected sea turtle species. This project is determining locations of management concern including small and large scale areas where numerous young turtles are likely to be found in the Gulf of Mexico. Scientific information from this project is bridging the gaps in our understanding of early sea turtle life history in order to provide improved estimation of threats at foraging areas and along migration routes for oceanic stage sea turtles in the Gulf. We are using novel satellite tracking methods to accomplish project goals. This project provided the first satellite track(s) of wild-caught oceanic stage hawksbill, green and Kemp¿s ridley sea turtles.