Sporadic nesting by loggerhead sea turtle determining for the future of the species in the Med

Protecting areas with loggerhead sea turtle sporadic nesting in western Mediterranean can be crucial for the preservation of the species in the future, according to an article published in the journal Scientific Reports by a team in which the researchers from the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute of the UB (IRBio) Carles Carreras, Marta Pascual and Lluís Cardona, take part. The following experts are also co-authors of the study: Mariluz Parga (SUBMON), Jesús Tomás and Patricia Gozalbes (University of Valencia), Juan José Castillo (CREMA) and Adolfo Marco (Doñana Biological Station).

 

When females do not return to the natal location

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a marine species which is present in tropical areas and places with a temperate climate. This carnivorous turtle nests in the coasts of Japan, Oman, Australia, the Caribbean and the east coast of North America, Cape Verde and in the eastern Mediterranean areas (in particular, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Libya) and undertakes long migrations to feeding areas such as the western Mediterranean. It comes back to the beach where it previously nested but some female turtles do not return to the nesting place and can nest in new areas sporadically. This phenomenon, which is considered to be exceptional, has been growing over the last years in the beaches of the western Mediterranean.

So far, the philopatry was regarded as the main obstacle for this turtle to colonize new areas. This study reveals for the first time that C. caretta has mechanisms to colonize new areas using the feeding areas as a bridge. This key strategy enabled this species to survive for millions of years, apart from spreading around the world and start colonizing beaches in the western Mediterranean.

“The phenomenon of global warming can turn the current nesting beaches into non-nesting ones. Therefore, the turtle would look for new places to nest”, says the lecturer Carles Carreras, first author of the study and member of the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics of the UB and IRBio.

Pictures: Carles Carreras & Lluís Cardona (Facultat de Biologia- IRBio)
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