Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region

We present the first data on hawksbill turtle post-nesting migrations and behaviour in the Arabian region. Tracks from 90 post-nesting turtles (65 in the Gulf and 25 from Oman) revealed that hawksbills in the Arabian region may nest up to 6 times in a season with an average of 3 nests per turtle. Tu...

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Main Author: Pilcher, Nicolas J. (author)
Other Authors: Antonopoulou, Marina (author), Perry, Lisa (author), Abdel-Moati, Mohamed A. (author), Al Abdessalaam, Thabit Zahran (author), Albeldawi, Mohammad (author), Al Ansi, Mehsin (author), Al-Mohannadi, Salman Fahad (author), Al Zahlawi, Nessrine (author), Baldwin, Robert (author), Chikhi, Ahmed (author), Das, Himansu Sekhar (author), Hamza, Shafeeq (author), Kerr, Oliver J. (author), Al Kiyumi, Ali (author), Mobaraki, Asghar (author), Al Suwaidi, Hana Saif (author), Al Suweidi, Ali Saqar (author), Sawaf, Moaz (author), Tourenq, Christophe (author), Williams, James (author), Willson, Andrew (author)
Format: article
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.06.009
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098114001816
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/4781
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_version_ 1857415087501869056
author Pilcher, Nicolas J.
author2 Antonopoulou, Marina
Perry, Lisa
Abdel-Moati, Mohamed A.
Al Abdessalaam, Thabit Zahran
Albeldawi, Mohammad
Al Ansi, Mehsin
Al-Mohannadi, Salman Fahad
Al Zahlawi, Nessrine
Baldwin, Robert
Chikhi, Ahmed
Das, Himansu Sekhar
Hamza, Shafeeq
Kerr, Oliver J.
Al Kiyumi, Ali
Mobaraki, Asghar
Al Suwaidi, Hana Saif
Al Suweidi, Ali Saqar
Sawaf, Moaz
Tourenq, Christophe
Williams, James
Willson, Andrew
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author_facet Pilcher, Nicolas J.
Antonopoulou, Marina
Perry, Lisa
Abdel-Moati, Mohamed A.
Al Abdessalaam, Thabit Zahran
Albeldawi, Mohammad
Al Ansi, Mehsin
Al-Mohannadi, Salman Fahad
Al Zahlawi, Nessrine
Baldwin, Robert
Chikhi, Ahmed
Das, Himansu Sekhar
Hamza, Shafeeq
Kerr, Oliver J.
Al Kiyumi, Ali
Mobaraki, Asghar
Al Suwaidi, Hana Saif
Al Suweidi, Ali Saqar
Sawaf, Moaz
Tourenq, Christophe
Williams, James
Willson, Andrew
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Pilcher, Nicolas J.
Antonopoulou, Marina
Perry, Lisa
Abdel-Moati, Mohamed A.
Al Abdessalaam, Thabit Zahran
Albeldawi, Mohammad
Al Ansi, Mehsin
Al-Mohannadi, Salman Fahad
Al Zahlawi, Nessrine
Baldwin, Robert
Chikhi, Ahmed
Das, Himansu Sekhar
Hamza, Shafeeq
Kerr, Oliver J.
Al Kiyumi, Ali
Mobaraki, Asghar
Al Suwaidi, Hana Saif
Al Suweidi, Ali Saqar
Sawaf, Moaz
Tourenq, Christophe
Williams, James
Willson, Andrew
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2014-11
2016-09-27T07:17:40Z
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.06.009
Nicolas J. Pilcher, Marina Antonopoulou, Lisa Perry, Mohamed A. Abdel-Moati, et al. "Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region," Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Volume 460, November 2014, Pages 89-99,.
00220981
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098114001816
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/4781
89-99
460
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Arabian Gulf
Conservation and management
Eretmochelys imbricata
Habitat use
Satellite tracking
Persian Gulf
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
description We present the first data on hawksbill turtle post-nesting migrations and behaviour in the Arabian region. Tracks from 90 post-nesting turtles (65 in the Gulf and 25 from Oman) revealed that hawksbills in the Arabian region may nest up to 6 times in a season with an average of 3 nests per turtle. Turtles from Qatar, Iran and the UAE generally migrated south and southwest to waters shared by the UAE and Qatar. A smaller number of turtles migrated northward towards Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and one reached Kuwait. Omani turtles migrated south towards Masirah island and to Quwayrah, staying close to the mainland and over the continental shelf. The widespread dispersal of hawksbill foraging grounds across the SW Gulf may limit habitat protection options available to managers, and we suggest these be linked to preservation of shallow water habitats and fishery management. In contrast, the two main foraging areas in Oman were small and could be candidates for protected area consideration. Critical migration bottlenecks were identified at the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula as turtles from Daymaniyat Islands migrate southward, and between Qatar and Bahrain. Overall, Gulf turtles spent 68% of the time in foraging ground with home ranges of 40–60km2 and small core areas of 6km2. Adult female turtles from Oman were significantly larger than Gulf turtles by ~11cm x¯=81.4CCL and spent 83% of their time foraging in smaller home ranges with even smaller core areas (~3km2), likely due to better habitat quality and food availability. Gulf turtles were among the smallest in the world x¯=70.3CCL and spent an average of 20% of time undertaking summer migration loops, a thermoregulatory response to avoid elevated sea surface temperatures, as the Gulf regularly experiences sustained sea surface temperatures >30°C. Fishery bycatch was determined for two of the 90 turtles. These spatio-temporal findings on habitat use will enable risk assessments for turtles in the face of multiple threats including oil and gas industries, urban and industrial development, fishery pressure, and shipping. They also improve our overall understanding of hawksbill habitat use and behaviour in the Arabian region, and will support sea turtle conservation-related policy decision-making at national and regional levels.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
format article
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identifier_str_mv Nicolas J. Pilcher, Marina Antonopoulou, Lisa Perry, Mohamed A. Abdel-Moati, et al. "Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region," Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Volume 460, November 2014, Pages 89-99,.
00220981
89-99
460
language_invalid_str_mv en
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publishDate 2014
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
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rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
spelling Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian RegionPilcher, Nicolas J.Antonopoulou, MarinaPerry, LisaAbdel-Moati, Mohamed A.Al Abdessalaam, Thabit ZahranAlbeldawi, MohammadAl Ansi, MehsinAl-Mohannadi, Salman FahadAl Zahlawi, NessrineBaldwin, RobertChikhi, AhmedDas, Himansu SekharHamza, ShafeeqKerr, Oliver J.Al Kiyumi, AliMobaraki, AsgharAl Suwaidi, Hana SaifAl Suweidi, Ali SaqarSawaf, MoazTourenq, ChristopheWilliams, JamesWillson, AndrewArabian GulfConservation and managementEretmochelys imbricataHabitat useSatellite trackingPersian GulfWe present the first data on hawksbill turtle post-nesting migrations and behaviour in the Arabian region. Tracks from 90 post-nesting turtles (65 in the Gulf and 25 from Oman) revealed that hawksbills in the Arabian region may nest up to 6 times in a season with an average of 3 nests per turtle. Turtles from Qatar, Iran and the UAE generally migrated south and southwest to waters shared by the UAE and Qatar. A smaller number of turtles migrated northward towards Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and one reached Kuwait. Omani turtles migrated south towards Masirah island and to Quwayrah, staying close to the mainland and over the continental shelf. The widespread dispersal of hawksbill foraging grounds across the SW Gulf may limit habitat protection options available to managers, and we suggest these be linked to preservation of shallow water habitats and fishery management. In contrast, the two main foraging areas in Oman were small and could be candidates for protected area consideration. Critical migration bottlenecks were identified at the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula as turtles from Daymaniyat Islands migrate southward, and between Qatar and Bahrain. Overall, Gulf turtles spent 68% of the time in foraging ground with home ranges of 40–60km2 and small core areas of 6km2. Adult female turtles from Oman were significantly larger than Gulf turtles by ~11cm x¯=81.4CCL and spent 83% of their time foraging in smaller home ranges with even smaller core areas (~3km2), likely due to better habitat quality and food availability. Gulf turtles were among the smallest in the world x¯=70.3CCL and spent an average of 20% of time undertaking summer migration loops, a thermoregulatory response to avoid elevated sea surface temperatures, as the Gulf regularly experiences sustained sea surface temperatures >30°C. Fishery bycatch was determined for two of the 90 turtles. These spatio-temporal findings on habitat use will enable risk assessments for turtles in the face of multiple threats including oil and gas industries, urban and industrial development, fishery pressure, and shipping. They also improve our overall understanding of hawksbill habitat use and behaviour in the Arabian region, and will support sea turtle conservation-related policy decision-making at national and regional levels.Emirates Wildlife Society–World Wild Fund for Nature. 7Days, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Bridgestone, CASP, College of the North Atlantic-Qatar, Deutsche Bank, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Dubai Festival City, Emirates Palace, Environment & Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah, Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi, Fairmont, Géant, Gulftainer, HSBC, Intercontinental, Dubai Festival City, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Jumeirah Etihad Towers, Linklaters, Momentum Logistics, Mubadala, Murjan Marinas, Nokia, Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, The Club, TimeOut Dubai, and the Young Presidents Organisation.Elsevier2016-09-27T07:17:40Z2014-11Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.06.009Nicolas J. Pilcher, Marina Antonopoulou, Lisa Perry, Mohamed A. Abdel-Moati, et al. "Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region," Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Volume 460, November 2014, Pages 89-99,.00220981http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098114001816http://hdl.handle.net/10576/478189-99460enhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:qspace.qu.edu.qa:10576/47812024-07-23T15:51:27Z
spellingShingle Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region
Pilcher, Nicolas J.
Arabian Gulf
Conservation and management
Eretmochelys imbricata
Habitat use
Satellite tracking
Persian Gulf
status_str publishedVersion
title Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region
title_full Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region
title_fullStr Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region
title_full_unstemmed Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region
title_short Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region
title_sort Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region
topic Arabian Gulf
Conservation and management
Eretmochelys imbricata
Habitat use
Satellite tracking
Persian Gulf
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.06.009
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098114001816
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/4781