Green turtle movements in the Gulf of Mexico: Tracking reveals new migration corridor and habitat use suggestive of MPA expansion

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 42, P. e02380 - e02380

Published: Jan. 13, 2023

Globally, Marine Protected Areas are an important tool in the conservation of large marine vertebrates. Recent studies have highlighted use protected areas by imperiled green turtles (Chelonia mydas) southern Gulf Mexico. To identify and characterize inter-nesting, migratory, foraging for that nest northern Mexico, we deployed 14 satellite tags on 13 individual after nesting Northwest Florida. We used switching state-space modeling to highlight turtle Florida Keys National Sanctuary habitat outside such as near Cape Sable, off Yucatán Peninsula, Turtles were tracked 21–217 days migrated a mean 22 days. Five individuals stopover sites during migration; these dense seagrass habitat, often within boundaries existing Aquatic Preserves. established home ranges 118.0 km2 (50% kernel density estimate) with centroids 0.33–7.3 km apart. The area Florida, which lies currently boundaries, appears be hotspot throughout While Mexico this subset turtles, several key remain unprotected. These findings relevant when considering expansion defining critical species.

Language: Английский

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Monitoring temporal and spatial trends of illegal and legal fishing in marine conservation areas across Canada's three oceans

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5(6)

Published: April 2, 2023

Abstract Expansion of marine conservation areas (CA) necessitates resource‐efficient and achievable strategies for monitoring evaluation ongoing fishing activity at national levels. To demonstrate explore such a strategy, we conducted the first extensive analysis within Canada's static, geographically defined CAs with regulations ( n = 264 areas). We used 8 years Automatic Identification System data to estimate effort across three oceans temporal spatial comparisons specific each CA's enactment date. addressed questions on CA effectiveness, displacement, line behavior, relationships between attributes. estimated 22,000 h after enactments, 22% which was identified as illegal. effectiveness appeared be lowest Atlantic based illegal density CAs. Fishing displacement generally not apparent buffer around tended already have higher prior enactments. responses varied considerably, visualized using timeseries plots maps developed CA. Our nation's full suite provides managers foundation approach continued reporting.

Language: Английский

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Assessment of nursery areas for the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) across the Eastern Tropical Pacific using a stable isotopes approach

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Jan. 8, 2024

The scalloped hammerhead shark ( Sphyrna lewini ) is one of the most iconic marine species across Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), yet little still known about its reproductive biology and origin their nursery areas, despite a continuous global decline in populations. Understanding nurseries complex task; however, it that obtention resources first stages life placental sharks occurs through maternal reminiscence, thus possible to infer energy neonates accumulate during gestation. In this study we assessed ecological connectivity ground use by undertaking stable isotope analysis carbon (δ 13 C) nitrogen 15 N) skin samples S. much distribution ETP, including Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). Our isotopic mixing models revealed found GMR, have information similar adult females inhabit archipelago, suggesting they are direct descendants GMR. While off continental coasts Ecuador Panama signatures like those inhabiting several locations ETP. This work provides insight into areas used aggregate large numbers oceanic islands highlighting value generate useful for conservation sharks.

Language: Английский

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Evidence of spillover benefits from large-scale marine protected areas to purse seine fisheries

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 386(6727), P. 1276 - 1281

Published: Dec. 12, 2024

Global tuna fisheries are valued at more than $40 billion, with the majority of this value derived from purse seine fisheries. Recently created large-scale marine protected areas potentially big enough to protect highly migratory species such as tuna, possibly leading increases in abundance (a conservation benefit) and consequent spillover near area boundaries (an economic benefit). Using publicly available data nine across Pacific Indian oceans, we find that catch-per-unit-effort has increased by an average 12 18% boundaries, increase declines distance boundaries. The is larger for bigeye (

Language: Английский

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High levels of connectivity over large distances in the diadematid sea urchin Centrostephanus sylviae

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 16(11), P. e0259595 - e0259595

Published: Nov. 4, 2021

Most benthic marine invertebrates with sedentary adult phases have planktonic larvae that permit connectivity between geographically isolated populations. Planktonic larval duration and oceanographic processes are vital to connecting populations of species inhabiting remote distant islands. In the present study, we analyzed population genetic structure sea urchin Centrostephanus sylviae , which inhabits only Juan Fernández Archipelago Desventuradas islands, separated by more than 800 km. For 92 individuals collected from Robinson Crusoe Selkirk Islands (Juan Archipelago) San Ambrosio Island (Desventuradas Islands), 7,067 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained. The results did not show a spatial for C . ; relative high migration rates revealed An analysis water circulation pattern in area described predominant northward flow periods inverted flow, suggesting could move both directions. Overall, this evidence suggests comprises large composed

Language: Английский

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