https://doi.org/10.82144/c806d3ce https://www.gbif.org/dataset/0deb27f8-c564-47d1-a0e0-f164277bdb3a https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/317 https://obis.org/dataset/7d06eee7-c86a-4d1d-a635-855d0aeb99e3 zd_317 Wallace Nichols Grupo Tortuguero Tracking Project Primary contact j@oceanrevolution.org OBIS-SEAMAP Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University

A328 LSRC building Durham NC 27708 US

seamap-contact@duke.edu https://seamap.env.duke.edu OBIS-SEAMAP Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University

A328 LSRC building Durham NC 27708 US

seamap-contact@duke.edu https://seamap.env.duke.edu distributor Wallace Nichols Grupo Tortuguero Tracking Project Primary contact j@oceanrevolution.org owner Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool seaturtle.org mcoyne@seaturtle.org http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/ originator 2025-09-29 eng Original provider: Grupo Tortuguero Tracking Project Dataset credits: Data provider: Grupo Tortuguero Tracking Project; Originating data center: Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool (STAT); Project sponsor or sponsor description: Abstract: The oceanic movements of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and a Pacific ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) were monitored with satellite telemetry between 1996 and 2001 in the Pacific Ocean. During this time several turtles migrated across the Pacific Ocean, covering more than 11,500 km between Santa Rosaliita, Baja California, Mexico (28 40N, 114 14W), and Sendai Bay, Japan (37 54N, 140 56E). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that loggerheads feeding in the eastern Pacific eventually return to nest on western Pacific beaches. Baja California loggerhead turtles have been shown, through molecular genetic analysis (Bowen et al. 1995) and flipper tag returns (Uchida and Teruya 1988, Resendiz et al. 1998), to be primarily of Japanese origin. We conclude that loggerhead turtles are capable of transpacific migrations and propose that the band of water between 25 and 30 degrees North latitude, the Subtropical Frontal Zone, may be an important transpacific migratory corridor. Recent findings (Polovina et al. 2000) indicate that juvenile loggerheads in the North Pacific move westward against weak (0.1-0.3 km/hr) eastward geostrophic currents, demonstrating that passive drift may not entirely explain the dispersal of loggerheads.<br><br>Juvenile loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, in the 20 - 85 cm straight carapace length (SCL) size range have been observed in the offshore waters along the Pacific coast of California, USA, and the Baja California peninsula, Mexico (Pitman 1990, Nichols, in press). Bartlett (1989) suggested that these turtles might be of western Pacific origin, migrating 10,000 km and feeding on pelagic red crabs (Pleuroncodes planipes) along the Baja California coast. Subsequently, Pacific loggerheads appear to utilize the entire North Pacific during the course of development in a manner similar to Atlantic loggerheads' use of the Atlantic Ocean (Bolten et al. 1998). After a period of more than 10 years (Zug et al. 1995), mature turtles evidently cross the Pacific Ocean from pelagic waters and foraging areas along the Baja California coast to return to natal beaches, a journey of more than 12,000 km in each direction. This is the first effort to document pelagic movements of North Pacific loggerheads from feeding grounds to nesting areas using satellite telemetry. Previous telemetry studies of loggerhead turtles have documented post-reproductive movements (Stoneburner 1982), pelagic movements (Polovina et al. 2000), home ranges (Renaud and Carpenter 1994), navigational abilities (Papi et al. 1997) and homing behavior (Luschi 1996). However, few studies of sea turtles have documented pre-nesting movements from feeding grounds to breeding areas. Notably, Renaud and Landry (1996) documented movement of a Kemp's ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) from feeding grounds in Louisiana, USA, to its successful nesting in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. A unique opportunity to track the movements of an adult-sized loggerhead turtle, rarely encountered along the Baja California coast, emerged in 1996. The turtle had been raised in captivity and used in the initial genetic analysis of Baja California loggerhead turtles (Bowen et al., 1995). Its mature size (Kamezaki and Matsui, 1997), genetic affinities with Japanese turtles, and the existence of a previous tag return from Japanese waters of a captive-raised, Baja California loggerhead turtle (Resendiz et al., 1998) were the deciding factors in choosing this particular turtle for the study. This turtle is included in the dataset as series 7667, named Adelita. The objective of the study was to monitor the oceanic movement, using satellite telemetry, of a Pacific loggerhead turtle initially captured on feeding grounds along the Baja California coast. Movement data also were examined with respect to oceanographic and meteorological information in an effort to gain insight into the navigational cues that guide adult sea turtles and to identify possible transpacific movement corridors. Marine Biology Telemetry Tagged animal N/A Visit STAT's project page for additional information at http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_id=114 The access to this work requires permission. https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/317 Western Pacific sector, Data extent 140.923 180 39.843 11.38 Eastern Pacific sector, Data extent -180 -86.083 39.843 11.38 1996-08-17 2001-08-29 Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). species Caretta caretta Loggerhead sea turtle species Chelonia mydas Green sea turtle species Lepidochelys olivacea Olive ridley The objective of the study was to monitor the oceanic movement, using satellite telemetry, of a Pacific loggerhead turtle initially captured on feeding grounds along the Baja California coast. Movement data also were examined with respect to oceanographic and meteorological information in an effort to gain insight into the navigational cues that guide adult sea turtles and to identify possible transpacific movement corridors. asNeeded Wallace Nichols Grupo Tortuguero Tracking Project Primary contact j@oceanrevolution.org NA NA NA Wallace Nichols owner NA 2025-09-29T11:46:58-04:00 dataset Nichols W. 2024. Pacific Turtle Tracks: Grupo Tortuguero. 1.0.0. Dataset published in OBIS-SEAMAP and originated from Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool (STAT; http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_id=114). https://doi.org/10.82144/c806d3ce. Coyne, M. S., and B. J. Godley. 2005. OBIS-SEAMAP: The world data center for marine mammal, sea bird, and sea turtle distributions. Marine Ecology Progress SeriesVol. 301: 1-7. OBIS-SEAMAP Dataset Page UTF-8 Interactive map https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/317 FGDC Metadata UTF-8 XML https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/317/fgdc EML Metadata UTF-8 XML https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/317/eml STAT Project Page UTF-8 Original web site http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_id=114 OBIS-SEAMAP zd_317 zd_317