Use of Space and Movement Patterns of Reproductive Female Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Akyatan Rookery in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract For threatened animals with distinct breeding and foraging areas, it is important to identify key habitats for appropriate conservation and management. The Mediterranean Sea represents the northernmost limits for green turtle breeding activity, with 46% of nesting sites (n = 6) located in the Eastern Mediterranean, though knowledge about their post-breeding distributions is limited to date. Thus, we evaluated 14 adult female green turtles breeding at Akyatan in Turkey using satellite transmitters, including their breeding, migratory and foraging movement and distribution patterns. The home ranges of green turtles during the inter-nesting period were along the eastern Mediterranean bordering the Turkish coast. The mean core home range was 56 ± 52.64 km2 (range=4-151 km2) and the core home ranges of female individuals during the inter-nesting period were along the shores of Akyatan beach. Most turtles migrated south (n = 12) to Egypt and Libya (6 and 6, respectively) with two distinct migratory routes one coastal, one cutting across the open ocean, while two migrated to the shores of Egypt until their signals were cut off (1364 km, range=1317-1430). Migration lasted up to 13-53 days (mean 31 days) at mean speeds of 2.57 km/h. Twelve green turtles frequented five different foraging sites on the Egyptian and Libyan coasts. Of those that migrated to Egypt, 5 frequented a highly saline lagoon (Bardawil), with four strongly overlapping core home ranges. Also, the home ranges of two turtles in Libya strongly overlapped (Gulf of Sirte). Efforts to implement protection should focus on foraging areas, in addition to breeding areas, to safeguard green sea turtles in this region