Adult Migrations and Habitat Use
231
1984; 1989; Guinea, 1994). Flatbacks are solitary nesters that lay an average of three
clutches per season at approximately 16-day intervals (Limpus et al., 1984). Females
presumably remain nearshore during the internesting period and return to foraging
grounds after the last clutch has been oviposited; no published data exist to support
this assumption.
Postnesting flatbacks migrate hundreds to thousands of kilometers to their foraging grounds, located primarily in turbid, shallow, inshore waters of northern
Queensland and along the north Australian coast (Limpus et al., 1983; Parmenter,
1994) and possibly northward to the Irian Jaya coast (Limpus et al., 1993).
8.7 LOGGERHEAD, CARETTA CARETTA
Loggerheads occur in subtropical and temperate waters across continental shelves
and estuarine areas in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans (Dodd, 1988).
Throughout this range, loggerheads spend most of their time in nearshore and inshore
waters, sometimes associated with reefs and other natural and artificial hard substrates (Dodd, 1988). Loggerheads are highly migratory, capable of traveling hundreds to thousands of kilometers between foraging and breeding areas (Caldwell
et al., 1959; Bell and Richardson, 1978; Timko and Kolz, 1982; Meylan et al., 1983;
Limpus et al., 1992; Papi et al., 1997; Plotkin and Spotila, 2002). Female loggerheads
do not appear to migrate to just one foraging area. Rather, they move continuously
and thus appear to forage at a series of coastal areas (Timko and Kolz, 1982; Papi
et al., 1997; Plotkin and Spotila, 2002).
Females migrate to nest at their natal beaches (Schierwater and Schroth, 1996)
about every 3 years (Limpus, 1985; Dodd, 1988). Both females and males migrate
asynchronously from foraging areas to breeding areas several weeks to months prior
to the nesting season (Limpus, 1985). Males arrive a few weeks in advance of the
females (Henwood, 1987). Some males appear to be nonmigratory and may reside
in breeding areas throughout the year (Henwood, 1987). Mating occurs during or
immediately after migration to breeding areas located nearshore nesting beaches
(Caldwell et al., 1959; Limpus, 1985; Wibbels et al., 1987).
Females lay an average of four clutches approximately every 2 weeks (Dodd,
1988). During the internesting period, females remain nearshore (Hopkins and Murphy, 1981; Stoneburner, 1982; Sakamoto et al., 1990; Hays et al., 1991; Tucker et al.,
1996). Females begin postnesting migrations as soon as their last clutch is oviposited
(Stoneburner, 1982; Tucker et al., 1996; Plotkin and Spotila, 2002). Females typically migrate nearshore, moving north or south of their nesting beach (Papi et al.,
1997; Plotkin and Spotila, 2002), but may also make brief offshore movements after
the nesting season into deep oceanic waters (Byles and Dodd, 1989).
8.8 GREEN, CHELONIA MYDAS
Green turtles occur in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and
Indian Oceans. They inhabit the neritic zone, occurring in nearshore and inshore
waters where they forage primarily on sea grasses and algae (Mortimer, 1982), and
1123 book.book Page 231 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM
231
1984; 1989; Guinea, 1994). Flatbacks are solitary nesters that lay an average of three
clutches per season at approximately 16-day intervals (Limpus et al., 1984). Females
presumably remain nearshore during the internesting period and return to foraging
grounds after the last clutch has been oviposited; no published data exist to support
this assumption.
Postnesting flatbacks migrate hundreds to thousands of kilometers to their foraging grounds, located primarily in turbid, shallow, inshore waters of northern
Queensland and along the north Australian coast (Limpus et al., 1983; Parmenter,
1994) and possibly northward to the Irian Jaya coast (Limpus et al., 1993).
8.7 LOGGERHEAD, CARETTA CARETTA
Loggerheads occur in subtropical and temperate waters across continental shelves
and estuarine areas in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans (Dodd, 1988).
Throughout this range, loggerheads spend most of their time in nearshore and inshore
waters, sometimes associated with reefs and other natural and artificial hard substrates (Dodd, 1988). Loggerheads are highly migratory, capable of traveling hundreds to thousands of kilometers between foraging and breeding areas (Caldwell
et al., 1959; Bell and Richardson, 1978; Timko and Kolz, 1982; Meylan et al., 1983;
Limpus et al., 1992; Papi et al., 1997; Plotkin and Spotila, 2002). Female loggerheads
do not appear to migrate to just one foraging area. Rather, they move continuously
and thus appear to forage at a series of coastal areas (Timko and Kolz, 1982; Papi
et al., 1997; Plotkin and Spotila, 2002).
Females migrate to nest at their natal beaches (Schierwater and Schroth, 1996)
about every 3 years (Limpus, 1985; Dodd, 1988). Both females and males migrate
asynchronously from foraging areas to breeding areas several weeks to months prior
to the nesting season (Limpus, 1985). Males arrive a few weeks in advance of the
females (Henwood, 1987). Some males appear to be nonmigratory and may reside
in breeding areas throughout the year (Henwood, 1987). Mating occurs during or
immediately after migration to breeding areas located nearshore nesting beaches
(Caldwell et al., 1959; Limpus, 1985; Wibbels et al., 1987).
Females lay an average of four clutches approximately every 2 weeks (Dodd,
1988). During the internesting period, females remain nearshore (Hopkins and Murphy, 1981; Stoneburner, 1982; Sakamoto et al., 1990; Hays et al., 1991; Tucker et al.,
1996). Females begin postnesting migrations as soon as their last clutch is oviposited
(Stoneburner, 1982; Tucker et al., 1996; Plotkin and Spotila, 2002). Females typically migrate nearshore, moving north or south of their nesting beach (Papi et al.,
1997; Plotkin and Spotila, 2002), but may also make brief offshore movements after
the nesting season into deep oceanic waters (Byles and Dodd, 1989).
8.8 GREEN, CHELONIA MYDAS
Green turtles occur in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and
Indian Oceans. They inhabit the neritic zone, occurring in nearshore and inshore
waters where they forage primarily on sea grasses and algae (Mortimer, 1982), and
1123 book.book Page 231 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM