Sea Turtles in the Dry Tortugas: Tracking Movements of Endangered Species in Florida's Coral-Reef Habitats

December 2008 | Publisher: USGS | Format: URL

soundwaves.usgs.gov — Kristen Hart and Keith Ludwig of the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC) participated in two research cruises in 2008 to study patterns of habitat use by endangered sea turtles in and around the National Park. Hart's research effort focuses on quantifying patterns of sea turtle habitat use, employing capture-recapture and satellite- and More... Kristen Hart and Keith Ludwig of the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC) participated in two research cruises in 2008 to study patterns of habitat use by endangered sea turtles in and around the National Park. Hart's research effort focuses on quantifying patterns of sea turtle habitat use, employing capture-recapture and satellite- and acoustic-tracking techniques to determine the amount of time endangered sea turtles spend in and around the various "no fishing zones" of Dry Tortugas National Park. The team also samples turtles for genetic material and will use molecular genetic methods to reveal connections between Dry Tortugas sea turtles and others sampled previously at various locations throughout south Florida and the Caribbean. USGS will provide a more comprehensive understanding of endangered sea turtles use of National Park resources over time, forming management strategies that benefit endangered species and the habitats and resources upon which they rely. Less...