Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean
Leatherback turtles migrate long distances between nesting beaches and distant foraging areas worldwide. This study analyzes the genetic diversity, life history stage, spatiotemporal distribution, and associated threats of a foraging aggregation in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. A total of 242 leathe...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/8/1285 |
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| author | Gabriela M. Vélez-Rubio Laura Prosdocimi Milagros López-Mendilaharsu Maria Noel Caraccio Alejandro Fallabrino Erin L. LaCasella Peter H. Dutton |
| author_facet | Gabriela M. Vélez-Rubio Laura Prosdocimi Milagros López-Mendilaharsu Maria Noel Caraccio Alejandro Fallabrino Erin L. LaCasella Peter H. Dutton |
| author_sort | Gabriela M. Vélez-Rubio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Leatherback turtles migrate long distances between nesting beaches and distant foraging areas worldwide. This study analyzes the genetic diversity, life history stage, spatiotemporal distribution, and associated threats of a foraging aggregation in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. A total of 242 leatherbacks stranded or bycaught by artisanal fisheries were recorded from 1997 to 2021 in Uruguay, with sizes ranging from 110.0 to 170.0 cm carapace lengths, indicating that the aggregation is composed of large juveniles and adults. Results of Bayesian mixed-stock analysis show that leatherbacks come primarily from the West African rookeries, based on mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from 59 of the turtles representing seven haplotypes, including a novel one (Dc1.7). The main threat identified in the area is the fisheries bycatch but most of the carcasses observed were badly decomposed. There was significant seasonal and interannual variability in strandings that is likely associated with the availability of prey and the intensity of the fishing effort. Taken together, these findings reinforce the importance of these South American foraging areas for leatherbacks and the need to determine regional habitat use and migratory routes across the broader Atlantic region, in order to develop effective conservation measures to mitigate threats both at nesting beaches and foraging areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:19:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f7fe2d60db746a6b0b727cdb24b2556 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:19:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f7fe2d60db746a6b0b727cdb24b25562023-11-17T17:59:35ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-04-01138128510.3390/ani13081285Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic OceanGabriela M. Vélez-Rubio0Laura Prosdocimi1Milagros López-Mendilaharsu2Maria Noel Caraccio3Alejandro Fallabrino4Erin L. LaCasella5Peter H. Dutton6Karumbé NGO, Av. Rivera 3245, Montevideo 11600, UruguayKarumbé NGO, Av. Rivera 3245, Montevideo 11600, UruguayKarumbé NGO, Av. Rivera 3245, Montevideo 11600, UruguayKarumbé NGO, Av. Rivera 3245, Montevideo 11600, UruguayKarumbé NGO, Av. Rivera 3245, Montevideo 11600, UruguayNOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037, USANOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037, USALeatherback turtles migrate long distances between nesting beaches and distant foraging areas worldwide. This study analyzes the genetic diversity, life history stage, spatiotemporal distribution, and associated threats of a foraging aggregation in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. A total of 242 leatherbacks stranded or bycaught by artisanal fisheries were recorded from 1997 to 2021 in Uruguay, with sizes ranging from 110.0 to 170.0 cm carapace lengths, indicating that the aggregation is composed of large juveniles and adults. Results of Bayesian mixed-stock analysis show that leatherbacks come primarily from the West African rookeries, based on mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from 59 of the turtles representing seven haplotypes, including a novel one (Dc1.7). The main threat identified in the area is the fisheries bycatch but most of the carcasses observed were badly decomposed. There was significant seasonal and interannual variability in strandings that is likely associated with the availability of prey and the intensity of the fishing effort. Taken together, these findings reinforce the importance of these South American foraging areas for leatherbacks and the need to determine regional habitat use and migratory routes across the broader Atlantic region, in order to develop effective conservation measures to mitigate threats both at nesting beaches and foraging areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/8/1285marine turtlesthreatsgenetic diversityRío de la Plata estuaryUruguayconservation management and practice |
| spellingShingle | Gabriela M. Vélez-Rubio Laura Prosdocimi Milagros López-Mendilaharsu Maria Noel Caraccio Alejandro Fallabrino Erin L. LaCasella Peter H. Dutton Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean Animals marine turtles threats genetic diversity Río de la Plata estuary Uruguay conservation management and practice |
| title | Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean |
| title_full | Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean |
| title_fullStr | Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean |
| title_short | Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean |
| title_sort | natal origin and spatiotemporal distribution of leatherback turtle i dermochelys coriacea i strandings at a foraging hotspot in temperate waters of the southwest atlantic ocean |
| topic | marine turtles threats genetic diversity Río de la Plata estuary Uruguay conservation management and practice |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/8/1285 |
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