The distribution of gelatinous plankton and zooplankton in the region of the North Equatorial Front (NEF) and its implication for the trans-oceanic migration of western-Pacific leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract: Given the concern over the endangered status of the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), attention has been brought to the threats they face during nesting periods on shore, but less effort has been made to reduce the risks leatherbacks face during their pelagic migrations – namely by-catch by long-line fisheries. Satellite images of turtles tagged in Monterey, CA have revealed that they repeatedly travel along the North Equatorial Front (NEF)— the boundary between the North Pacific Central Water (NPCW) and North Pacific Equatorial Water (NPEW) masses— during their trans-Pacific migrations. We hypothesize that leatherback turtles are attracted back to this region in order to feed on the gelatinous plankton that aggregates along frontal boundaries. To test this hypothesis, neuston and meter tows were performed along a portion of the North Pacific Equatorial Front along which a tagged leatherback was migrating. The tows revealed that the density of gelatinous organisms was much higher at the front than in the colder, oligotrophic waters to the north. It was concluded that the leatherback was using this frontal boundary during its migration to balance its need to feed on gelatinous plankton with its metabolic need to stay in cooler waters. Because leatherback turtles exhibit such high fidelity for this stretch of the pelagic Pacific, we recommend the establishment of a “corridor” of protection for these animals.

Type of resource	text
Date created	June 11, 2007

Author	Lehmer, Larisa
Author	McCracken, Scott

Subject	Stanford@SEA
Subject	S-211
Subject	Hopkins Marine Station
Subject	Department of Biology
Subject	Department of Earth System Science
Subject	BIOHOPK 182H
Subject	BIOHOPK 323H
Subject	EARTHSYS 323
Subject	ESS 323
Subject	endangered
Subject	leatherback
Subject	dermochelys
Subject	coriacea
Subject	migration
Subject	fishing
Subject	satellite
Subject	Monterey
Subject	California
Subject	North Equatorial Front
Subject	NEF
Subject	North Pacific Central Water
Subject	NPCW
Subject	North Pacific Equatorial Water
Subject	NPEW
Subject	trans-Pacific
Subject	gelatinous plankton
Subject	frontal boundary
Subject	neuston
Subject	oligotrophic
Subject	metabolic requirements
Genre	Student project report

Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/yy594jf5798

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License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license (CC BY).

Preferred Citation: Lehmer, Larisa; McCracken, Scott. 2007. The distribution of gelatinous plankton and zooplankton in the region of the North Equatorial Front (NEF) and its implication for the trans-oceanic migration of western-Pacific leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). Unpublished Student Work, S-211, Stanford@SEA, Stanford Digital Repository. https://purl.stanford.edu/yy594jf5798.

Stanford@SEA -- Student papers

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