Castro, J., Hughes, A.P., Cid, A., Patrรญcio, A.R., Laborde, M.I. & Matos, F.L. (2023). First long-term study of live observations of loggerhead and leatherback turtles in southern Portugal with relevance for conservation. ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ค ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ท๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ: ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฉ๐ธ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐ด๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ด, 1โ 7. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3991
Our new paper got published last month!
We are happy to be part of the scientific advancement for sea turtles, with this new research study case. This research was led by our researchers Joana Castro and Andrรฉ Cid, in collaboration with four other marine researchers.
To develop the limited information on loggerhead turtles (๐๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ข ๐ค๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ข) and leatherback turtles (๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐บ๐ด ๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ข), Joana C. and Andrรฉ C. helped the research by providing data collected during surveys aboard AIMMโs research vessel Ketos, between 2016 and 2022. This data provided crucial information about the loggerhead and leatherback turtle populations along the southern coast of Portugal. It confirmed the recurrent presence of loggerhead turtles in the study area, with a higher frequency of sightings in May and June. However, leatherback turtles were only occasionally sighted in certain years.
By understanding their habitat preferences, conservation efforts can be better targeted to protect these vulnerable species and can help to improve interactions between turtles and human activities in the region. Knowing where and when these two species of sea turtles are located, can be an opportunity to lead the implementation of specific measures such as highlighting potential hotspots for turtle bycatch.
Furthermore, this study will help to reduce the lack of information and will help the scientific community to understand more about these two species, in this area.
To conclude, this study will help mitigate the threats on loggerhead and leatherback turtles, ensuring the long-term survival of these magnificent creatures!