The Leatherback Migrations from Costa Rica to South Pacific Gyre

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Summary:

Scientists and conservationists published this study to explain the long-distance migrations of leatherback turtles from Costa Rica to the South Pacific Gyre. The scientists included specific methods, like tagging, to observe the movements of the leatherback population in the eastern Pacific. Results confirm certain factors influencing migratory patterns for leatherbacks, like strong ocean currents. Ocean migrations of leatherback turtles present government official and scientists opportunities for conservation.

The migratory patterns of leatherback sea turtles have posed a concern for conservation. The leatherback population in the eastern Pacific has declined more than 90% over the past two decades due to certain factors, such as habitat loss and unsustainable egg harvest. Scientists have tracked 46 females over a 4-year period, which is the largest multi-year study of leatherbacks. Leatherbacks that were studied spend about 60 days around their nesting beaches on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Results of tracking leatherbacks indicate that the leatherbacks followed a predictable route with a specific direction.

Materials and Methods:

Scientists used special tagging devices to keep track of movements and temperatures of leatherback turtles during their migration. They covered possible factors that contributed to the leatherbacks’ movements in the ocean, such as ocean currents and food supply. They decided to remove the influence of currents from the leatherbacks’ trajectory to observe the true behavior of a turtle, which could possibly be considered as the control group to compare true behavior with influenced behavior. They also measured the area region in which the leatherbacks traveled along the eastern Pacifi...

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...e species, since leatherbacks migrate through international waters. Fisheries would also be able to maintain their business during certain times of the days without intervening in the leatherback migration. This study also provided the largest tracking dataset ever recorded for leatherbacks. However, this type of data only presented the beginning of the non-reproductive period for female leatherbacks; therefore more research is needed to fully understand the behaviors of leatherbacks.

Works Cited

Shillinger, George L., Daniel M. Palacios, Helen Bailey, Steven J. Bograd, Alan M. Swithenbank, Philippe Gaspar, Bryan P. Wallace, James R. Spotila, Frank V. Paladino, Rotney Piedra, Scott A. Eckert, and Barbara A. Block. "Persistent Leatherback Turtle Migrations Present Opportunities for Conservation." Ed. Georgina M. Mace. PLoS Biology 6.7 (2008): E171. Print.

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