Tracking sea turtle ""lost years"" in the Gulf of Mexico
Implementing Organization
University of Central Florida
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$290,803
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
The U.S. Department of Treasury
Funding Program
The RESTORE Act Funds Bucket 5: Centers of Excellence Research Grant Program
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Environmental Research
Targeted Resources
Sea Turtles
Project Description
Marine turtles are late-maturing, migratory species that inhabit diverse habitats during different stages of their lives. Little is known about where these turtles go and their habitats between when they leave nesting beaches as hatchlings through their early years as oceanic juveniles. The Deep Water Horizon oil spill occurred in an important habitat for young sea turtles transitioning from oceanic to coastal habitats. Continued damage assessment and restoration require that status and condition of turtle stocks be understood across all life stages and habitats. This project will track oceanic stage turtles with satellite tags in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, and provide behavioral data on understudied young life stages in a critical habitat, offshore Sargassum seaweed mats.
Contact
Kate Mansfield407-823-4431
kate.mansfield@ucf.edu
Project Website
None
Location is center of study area from La to S. FL