1
|
Patel SH, Winton MV, Hatch JM, Haas HL, Saba VS, Fay G, Smolowitz RJ. Projected shifts in loggerhead sea turtle thermal habitat in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean due to climate change. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8850. [PMID: 33893380 PMCID: PMC8065110 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88290-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samir H Patel
- Coonamessett Farm Foundation, 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth, MA, 02536, USA.
| | - Megan V Winton
- School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 836 S Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA, 02744, USA.,Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, 235 Orleans Road, North Chatham, MA, 02650, USA
| | - Joshua M Hatch
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Heather L Haas
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Vincent S Saba
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Princeton University Forrestal Campus, 201 Forrestal Road, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Gavin Fay
- School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 836 S Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA, 02744, USA
| | - Ronald J Smolowitz
- Coonamessett Farm Foundation, 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth, MA, 02536, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lamont MM, Johnson D, Catizone DJ. Movements of marine and estuarine turtles during Hurricane Michael. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1577. [PMID: 33452383 PMCID: PMC7810867 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81234-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural disturbances are an important driver of population dynamics. Because it is difficult to observe wildlife during these events, our understanding of the strategies that species use to survive these disturbances is limited. On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall on Florida’s northwest coast. Using satellite and acoustic telemetry, we documented movements of 6 individual turtles: one loggerhead sea turtle, one Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, three green sea turtles and one diamondback terrapin, in a coastal bay located less than 30 km from hurricane landfall. Post-storm survival was confirmed for all but the Kemp’s ridley; the final condition of that individual remains unknown. No obvious movements were observed for the remaining turtles however the loggerhead used a larger home range in the week after the storm. This study highlights the resiliency of turtles in response to extreme weather conditions. However, long-term impacts to these species from habitat changes post-hurricane are unknown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M Lamont
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA.
| | - Darren Johnson
- Cherokee Nations Systems Solutions, Contracted to U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Lafayette, LA, 70506, USA
| | - Daniel J Catizone
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA
| |
Collapse
|