I still call Australia home: Satellite telemetry informs the protection of flatback turtles in Western Australian waters

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4847
• Publication Date: 2024-05-22T23:30:34Z
• Authors: Lauren R. Peel; Scott D. Whiting; Kellie Pendoley; Paul A. Whittock; Luciana C. Ferreira; Michele Thums; Andrea U. Whiting; Anton D. Tucker; Jason Rossendell; Glenn McFarlane; Sabrina Fossette
• Keywords: Satellite Tracking

Abstract Flatback turtles ( Natator depressus ) are endemic to northern Australia, but their movements at sea have remained understudied. Here, we compiled one of the world's largest single‐species satellite tracking datasets n = 280 transmitters, deployed between 2005 and 2020) investigate level spatial protection afforded five flatback genetic stocks across Western Australia during different behavioral phases (i.e., inter‐nesting, migration, foraging). Flatbacks spent 99.5% time in Australian waters provided with a very high (>98% overlap Biologically Important Areas) inter‐nesting phase life cycle. Up 85.6% 59.1% marine reserves foraging migratory ranges for stocks, respectively, was found. However, our results identified additional areas where protective measures would benefit multiple once. The detailed distribution maps produced here will be key resources managers researchers highlight benefits collaborative multi‐agency studies. Additionally, this work provides useful analytical framework future studies endeavoring complete large‐scale, multi‐stock distributions assessments populations conservation concern.