Modelling the niche for a marine vertebrate: a case study incorporating behavioural plasticity, proximate threats and climate change

• DOI: 10.1111/ecog.01245
• Publication Date: 2014-12-03T08:33:34Z
• Authors: Stephen K. Pikesley; Annette C. Broderick; Daniel Cejudo; Michael S. Coyne; Matthew H. Godfrey; Brendan J. Godley; Pedro Lopez; Luis Felipe López...; Sonia Elsy Merino; Nuria Varo‐Cruz; Matthew J. Witt; Lucy A. Hawkes
• Keywords: Rookery; Bycatch; Marine habitats

The integration of satellite telemetry, remotely sensed environmental data, and habitat/environmental modelling has provided for a growing understanding spatial temporal ecology species conservation concern. Republic Cape Verde comprises the only substantial rookery loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta in eastern Atlantic. A size related dichotomy adult foraging patterns previously been revealed sea turtles from this population with proportion adults neritically, whilst majority forage oceanically. Here we describe observed habitat use employ ecological niche to identify suitable habitats animals utilising these two distinct behavioural strategies. We also investigate how predicted niches may alter under influence climate change induced oceanic temperature rises. further contextualise our models fisheries catch data knowledge ‘hotspots’ infer threat interaction population, employing both Our analysis repeated coincident habitat, over multiple seasons, by all smaller turtles, larger neritic occupied continental shelf waters. Modelled were spatially distinct, surface rises, there was divergence habitats. Analysis highlighted that modelled could extensively interact intensive activity within waters northwest Africa. suggest development enforcement sustainable management strategies, specifically multi‐national policy, begin address some issues; however, must be flexible adaptive accommodate potential range shift species.