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High accuracy tracking reveals how small conservation areas can protect marine megafauna

Graeme C. Hays, Jeanne A. Mortimer, Alex Rattray, Takahiro Shimada, Nicole Esteban Orcid Logo

Ecological Applications, Volume: 31, Issue: 7

Swansea University Author: Nicole Esteban Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1002/eap.2418

Abstract

Space use estimates can inform conservation management but relaying high accuracy locations is often not straightforward. We used Fastloc-GPS Argos satellite tags with the innovation of additional data relay via a ground station (termed a “Mote”) to record high volumes (typically >20 locations pe...

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Published in: Ecological Applications
ISSN: 1051-0761 1939-5582
Published: Wiley 2021
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58161
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Abstract: Space use estimates can inform conservation management but relaying high accuracy locations is often not straightforward. We used Fastloc-GPS Argos satellite tags with the innovation of additional data relay via a ground station (termed a “Mote”) to record high volumes (typically >20 locations per individual per day) of high accuracy tracking data. Tags were attached in the Chagos Archipelago (Indian Ocean) in 2018–2019 to 23 immature turtles of two species for which there have been long-standing conservation concerns: 21 hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and two green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Over long tracking durations (mean 227.6 d per individual), most turtles moved very little. For example, 17 of 21 hawksbill turtles remained continuously in the lagoon where they were equipped, with 95% and 50% utilization distributions (UDs) averaging only 1.03 and 0.18 km2, respectively. Many individuals, and both species, could use the same small spaces, i.e., individuals did not maintain unique home ranges. However, three hawksbill turtles travelled hundreds of kilometersfrom the tagging site. Our results show that, for some large marine vertebrates, even small protectedareas of only a few square kilometers can encompass the movements of a large proportion of individuals over long periods. High accuracy tracking may likewise reveal the details of space use for many other animals that move little and/or use important focal areas and where previous low-accuracy tracking techniques have tended to overestimate space use .
Keywords: animal tracking; Argos; BIOTMPA; conservation planning; sea turtle
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Funders: Bertarelli Foundation
Issue: 7