Project Page

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 Mansfield
407-823-4431
kate.mansfield@ucf.edu
Project Website
Project Partners

None

Affiliated Institutions

Location is center of study area from La to S. FL

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