Rotas migratórias, áreas de uso intenso e padrões de mergulho de tartarugas-de couro (Dermochelys coriacea) no Atlântico Sul Ocidental

• Autor(a) principal: Mendilaharsu, Maria de Los Milagros López
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UERJ
• Texto Completo: http://www.bdtd.uerj.br/handle/1/4914
• topic: Leatherback turtle; Migratory paths; High use areas; Dive patterns; Satellite telemetry; Tartaruga-de-couro; Rotas migratórias; Áreas de uso intenso; Padrões de mergulho; Telemetria por satélite; Tartaruga marinha - Migração; Tartaruga marinha - Comportamento; CNPQ::CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS::ECOLOGIA

Sea turtles are long-lived, highly migratory endangered species with a wide distribution. Thus improving our knowledge of the spatial ecology of sea turtles is essential for elucidating aspects of their life history and for the development of effective conservation measures. This thesis comprises a collection of articles or chapters that aim to contribute to the knowledge of the spatial ecology of the leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea. This study used new technologies such as satellite telemetry (which provides a useful approach for tracking the movements of migratory species) and a set of geoprocessing tools as a methodological approach that aimed to: examine the movements and migrations of leatherback turtles, identify high use areas and spatio-temporal patterns of habitat use, and integrate biological and environmental data to describe foraging strategies of this species. Five leatherback turtles (a subadut, two adult males and two adult females) were fitted with satellite transmitters in the Southwest Atlantic between 2005 and 2008. Besides providing geographical location data the transmitters also recorded dive information such as mean and maximum dive depth and duration, individual dive profiles and water temperature data. For the first time the movements and migrations of leatherback turtles tagged in the South Atlantic were documented. Previously unidentified high use areas (or foraging areas) were recognized for this species, also a seasonal residence along those areas located in tropical and temperate areas off the coast of South America (19-45 °S). The seasonal movements were closely associated with small and mesoscale physical seasonal processes. Depending on the marine environment exploited during periods of residence, the turtles showed different foraging strategies identified through the analysis of the diving patterns.