Casey Key Loggerheads 2005-2006

Mote Marine Laboratory

Dataset credit

Data provider
Mote Marine Laboratory
Originating data center
Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool (STAT)
Project partner
The project is coordinated by the Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory. The Casey Key Association allows access to the beachfront along this stretch of coast.


Project sponsor or sponsor description
Satellite tags and tracking time were sponsored in whole or in part by:
Mote Scientific Foundation, Virginia Miller, New Canaan Country School, Jeniam Foundation, Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Sirtrack, Coastal Wildlife Club, NASA Signals of Spring
www.signalsofspring.net
www.norcrossws.org
www.countryschool.net/users/clener/index.html




Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Tony Tucker Mote Marine Laboratory
Data entry Michael Coyne seaturtle.org

Citation

Abstract

The history of sea turtle research is shaped by researchers having convenient access to turtles while nesting on land. However, marine turtles face threats for the other 99% of their life cycle in seas far from the nesting beach. The major rookery of loggerhead nesting in the Gulf of Mexico is in Sarasota County where the beaches are monitored by the Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program and Coastal Wildlife Club, Inc. While there is a firm grasp of the terrestrial challenges in maintaining viable nesting beaches, there is less certainty of threats in the oceanic realm once females depart the nesting beaches. A key to understanding the in-water life history is to follow the turtle movements.
Tracking the movements of marine turtles is a challenge because they migrate between spatially distant developmental, breeding, and adult feeding habitats. Consequently, the management of highly migratory turtles requires a regional management approach. Turtles that nest in Florida may migrate from the Gulf of Mexico, Eastern Atlantic, or Caribbean. The converse is also true, that turtles feeding in Florida waters may later migrate elsewhere to nest.
This migratory behavior poses several key management questions. Where do turtles travel from the nesting beach? What hazards do they encounter en-route to and from a feeding ground? Can portions of their travel routes be safeguarded during a migration? Do all turtles take the same route or do individuals select different routes and habitats? Another set of questions arises about their responses to oceanic variables such as currents and temperature. Do sea turtles migrate seasonally in response to winter temperatures? Are the home habitats spatially diffuse or do they congregate at current boundaries or eddies? Tracking migratory paths can detail critical habitat use through the year as travel corridors and destinations are mapped in relation to potential threats, such as incidental capture in coastal or pelagic fisheries, harmful algal blooms, or zones of boat traffic.

Purpose

N/A

Supplemental information

Visit STAT's project page for additional information.

References

Attributes

Overview

Attributes described below represent those in the original dataset provided by the provider.
Only minimum required attributes are visible and downloadable online. Other attributes may be obtained upon provider's permission.

Attributes in dataset

Attribute (table column)Description
prognumProgram number
tag_idPTT ID
lcLocation class
iqQuality indicator
dir1Dir 1
nb_mesNumber of messages received
big_nb_mesdefinition not provided
best_levelBest signal strength in dB
pass_durationPass duration in seconds
nopcNumber Of Plausibility Checks successful (from 0-4)
calcul_freqCalculated frequency
altitudeAltitude used for location calculation
sensorsSensors
speciesSpecies name
project_idSTAT Project ID
lc_filterParameters to location filtering
speed_filterParameters to speed filtering
distance_filterParameters to distance filtering
topo_filterParameters to topo filtering
time_filterParameters to time filtering
angle_filterParameters to angle filtering
life_stageLife stage of the animal
genderGender of the animal
wetdryWet or dry
wetdry_filterParameters to Wet or dry filterint
obs_datetimeDate and time (local time zone)
timezone_hTime difference from UTC
OBIS-SEAMAP ID336
Seabirds0
Marine mammals0
Sea turtles1,894
Rays and sharks0
Other species0
Non spatial0
Non species0
Total1,894
Date, Begin2005-07-16
Date, End2007-04-07
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude18.98 - 30.19
Longitude-91.66 - -76.14
Coord. prec.3 decimal digits
PlatformTag
Data typeTelemetry location
TracklinesYES (ID: 338)
Traveled (km)28,886
Travel hours59,482
Contr. throughSatellite Tracking and Analysis Tool
Registered2006-07-09
Updated2018-02-23
StatusNot published
Sharing policy Permission required
Shared with SWOT
OBIS*
* Aggregated summary
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