Insights into the management of sea turtle internesting area through satellite telemetry

Abstract

Female sea turtles typically lay several clutches during each nesting season and rest in the time between laying clutches (the internesting period) in the waters off the nesting beach. Adequate protection of turtles in the internesting area requires knowledge on their spatial behaviour and was so far hampered by methodological limitations. Satellite telemetry data of exceptionally high quality allowed us to scrutinize internesting area use of four loggerhead sea turtles nesting in the Bay of Laganas (Zakynthos, Greece). We assessed the efficacy of two zones of a marine reserve with distinct levels of protection (boats are excluded from one zone). Most of the obtained locations of three of the four turtles were within the bay, a result consistent with a strategy to minimize energy expenditure. Turtles showed no obvious preference for the highly protected area of the bay. The availability of warmer water in the less protected area may be more crucial than avoidance of boat disturbance.