Projected shifts in loggerhead sea turtle thermal habitat in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean due to climate change
Publication (PUB) | Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:64646 | Updated: August 9, 2022 | Published / External
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Summary
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88290-9
AbstractIt is well established that sea turtles are vulnerable to atmospheric and oceanographic shifts associated with climate change. However, few studies have formally projected how their seasonal marine habitat may shift in response to warming ocean temperatures. Here we used a high-resolution global climate model and a large satellite tagging dataset to project changes in the future distribution of suitable thermal habitat for loggerheads along the northeastern continental shelf of the United States. Between 2009 and 2018, we deployed 196 satellite tags on loggerheads within the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) of the Northwest Atlantic continental shelf region, a seasonal foraging area. Tag location data combined with depth and remotely sensed sea surface temperature (SST) were used to characterize the species’ current thermal range in the MAB. The best-fitting model indicated that the habitat envelope for tagged loggerheads consisted of SST ranging from 11.0° to 29.7 °C and depths between 0 and 105.0 m. The calculated core bathythermal range consisted of SSTs between 15.0° and 28.0 °C and depths between 8.0 and 92.0 m, with the highest probability of presence occurred in regions with SST between 17.7° and 25.3 °C and at depths between 26.1 and 74.2 m. This model was then forced by a high-resolution global climate model under a doubling of atmospheric CO2 to project loggerhead probability of presence over the next 80 years. Our results suggest that loggerhead thermal habitat and seasonal duration will likely increase in northern regions of the NW Atlantic shelf. This change in spatiotemporal range for sea turtles in a region of high anthropogenic use may prompt adjustments to the localized protected species conservation measures.
Publication Information
Publication Type
Journal
Publication Date
2021-04-23
Contact Information
No contact information is available for this record.
Please contact the owner organization (NEFSC) for inquiries on this record.
Extents
-76.55326° W,
-64.36326° E,
45.65266° N,
35.21266° S
Item Identification
Title: | Projected shifts in loggerhead sea turtle thermal habitat in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean due to climate change |
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Status: | Completed |
Publication Date: | 2021-04-23 |
Abstract: |
It is well established that sea turtles are vulnerable to atmospheric and oceanographic shifts associated with climate change. However, few studies have formally projected how their seasonal marine habitat may shift in response to warming ocean temperatures. Here we used a high-resolution global climate model and a large satellite tagging dataset to project changes in the future distribution of suitable thermal habitat for loggerheads along the northeastern continental shelf of the United States. Between 2009 and 2018, we deployed 196 satellite tags on loggerheads within the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) of the Northwest Atlantic continental shelf region, a seasonal foraging area. Tag location data combined with depth and remotely sensed sea surface temperature (SST) were used to characterize the species’ current thermal range in the MAB. The best-fitting model indicated that the habitat envelope for tagged loggerheads consisted of SST ranging from 11.0° to 29.7 °C and depths between 0 and 105.0 m. The calculated core bathythermal range consisted of SSTs between 15.0° and 28.0 °C and depths between 8.0 and 92.0 m, with the highest probability of presence occurred in regions with SST between 17.7° and 25.3 °C and at depths between 26.1 and 74.2 m. This model was then forced by a high-resolution global climate model under a doubling of atmospheric CO2 to project loggerhead probability of presence over the next 80 years. Our results suggest that loggerhead thermal habitat and seasonal duration will likely increase in northern regions of the NW Atlantic shelf. This change in spatiotemporal range for sea turtles in a region of high anthropogenic use may prompt adjustments to the localized protected species conservation measures. |
Other Citation Details: |
Patel, S.H., Winton, M.V., Hatch, J.M., Haas, H.L., Saba, V.S., Fay, G., and Smolowitz, R.J. Projected shifts in loggerhead sea turtle thermal habitat in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean due to climate change. Sci Rep 11, 8850 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88290-9 |
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88290-9 |
Keywords
Theme Keywords
Thesaurus | Keyword |
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UNCONTROLLED | |
None | climate change |
None | depth |
None | foraging |
None | Georges Bank |
None | loggerhead sea turtle |
None | mid-Atlantic Bight |
None | satellite telemetry |
None | sea surface temperature |
None | southern New England |
Publication Information
Publication Type: | Journal |
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Support Roles
Author
Date Effective From: | 2021 |
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Date Effective To: | |
Contact (Organization): | NEFSC Woods Hole Lab (WH) |
Address: |
166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA |
Phone: | (508)495-2000 |
URL: | http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/woodshole/ |
Business Hours: | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Monday - Friday |
Contact Instructions: |
joshua.hatch@noaa.gov |
Extents
Extent Group 1
Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1
W° Bound: | -76.55326 | |
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E° Bound: | -64.36326 | |
N° Bound: | 45.65266 | |
S° Bound: | 35.21266 |
Access Information
Security Class: | Unclassified |
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Catalog Details
Catalog Item ID: | 64646 |
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GUID: | gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:64646 |
Metadata Record Created By: | Elizabeth Josephson |
Metadata Record Created: | 2021-05-12 19:41+0000 |
Metadata Record Last Modified By: | SysAdmin InPortAdmin |
Metadata Record Last Modified: | 2022-08-09 17:11+0000 |
Metadata Record Published: | 2021-05-13 |
Owner Org: | NEFSC |
Metadata Publication Status: | Published Externally |
Do Not Publish?: | N |
Metadata Last Review Date: | 2021-05-13 |
Metadata Review Frequency: | 1 Year |
Metadata Next Review Date: | 2022-05-13 |