Habitat use and distribution of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean Seaimplications for marine planning strategies

Zusammenfassung

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are highly mobile organisms, which occupy diverse habitats that often span large distances, exposing them to threats that can negatively impact the ability of their populations to persist. Delineating conservation priority measures for this species is challenging since integrated knowledge on survival, habitat use and the relative exposure to threats remains scarce, especially during the early life stages. In the western Mediterranean basin this is particularly relevant when considering the current colonization process taking place in the area within the last decade. During recent years, records on nesting females and clutches have increased and, when possible, management measures such as nest relocation and head-starting programs have been undertaken. This offers a unique opportunity to fill in the knowledge gaps on survival, dispersal routes and habitat use of loggerhead nesting females and post-hatchlings. No research prior to this thesis has satellite-tracked nesting and post-nesting females in the western Mediterranean, nor Mediterranean post-hatchlings smaller than 35 cm. The present thesis aims to address the aforementioned knowledge gaps and enhance marine planning strategies for loggerhead conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. The main objectives were: i) to provide the first empirical survival estimates for head-started post-hatchlings, ii) to elucidate the dispersal routes and habitat use at different life stages, iii) to identify areas that should be considered for protection, iv) to assess the effectiveness of current marine protected areas (MPAs) and other protection measures for loggerhead conservation, and v) to propose spatial conservation measures based on research findings. To achieve these objectives, trajectories of 117 turtles satellite-tracked between 2003 and 2022 were analyzed. This dataset includes the first tracking data of nesting and post-nesting females in Spain and Mediterranean post-hatchlings, which have been made publicly available in a data repository. Moreover, the first assessment of habitat use and the use of MPAs for loggerhead sea turtles tracked from western Mediterranean thorough their life cycle was conducted. The outcomes of this thesis revealed, for the first time, the capability of survival and dispersal, as well as the habitat use of post-hatchlings in the Mediterranean Sea. The Ionian and Levant Seas were identified as potential developmental areas for post-hatchlings. Nesting females exhibited three different behaviours during the inter-nesting period: i) some degree of fidelity to a nesting area, ii) an exploratory nesting behavior, or iii) movement towards oceanic waters after tagging. In addition, the first-time remigration of this species to nest in Spain was recorded, confirming that females show some degree of nest site fidelity between breeding cycles. During the non-breeding stage, females remained in most cases foraging in oceanic waters of the Algerian basin. The present thesis has validated the significance of the Algerian basin for loggerhead sea turtles satellite-tracked from the western Mediterranean, particularly for juveniles and adults. In addition, other important areas inhabited by the loggerhead turtles were identified in the southern Balearic Sea, the Alboran Sea, the Sicilian Channel, the Northeast Tunisia, Maltese waters, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea, depending on the life stage. The analysis of the spatial distribution of the loggerhead sea turtle has also revealed that the current distribution and coverage of Mediterranean MPAs are not effective in achieving this species' conservation goals. Outcomes from the present thesis significantly enhance our understanding of the survival and spatial use of the loggerhead sea turtle throughout its life cycle in the Mediterranean Sea.