Spatiotemporal Analysis of Stranded Loggerhead Sea Turtles on the Croatian Adriatic Coast

Author:

Mihaljević Željko1ORCID,Naletilić Šimun1,Jeremić Jasna2,Kilvain Iva1,Belaj Tina3,Andreanszky Tibor1

Affiliation:

1. Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

2. Ministry of Environment and Energy, Radnička Cesta 80/7, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

3. Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Kaštel 24, 51551 Veli Lošinj, Croatia

Abstract

This study investigates the spatiotemporal trends of loggerhead turtles along the Croatian Adriatic coast by using stranding data and post-mortem analyses. Information on 620 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), collected in the period between 2010 and 2022, has been analysed. Seasonal stranding variations reveal distinct patterns, indicating season-specific abundance and age-specific mortality in different areas, particularly in the key neritic habitat of the northern Adriatic. The analysis identifies four critical areas in the northeast and central Adriatic showing high stranding densities and provides regional managers with a tool with which to effectively conserve and manage this species. Fishing-induced mortality, collision with vessels, and potential cold stunning are identified as major threats to loggerhead turtles. Post-mortem investigations reveal that longline fishing gear and collisions with vessels are significant age-specific mortality contributors, underscoring the need for targeted conservation efforts in high-risk areas. The study acknowledges potential biases in strandings records but highlights the importance of post-mortem investigations in understanding mortality causes. The findings provide valuable insights for improving conservation strategies, emphasizing the importance of focused surveillance and conservation efforts in identified high-risk locations to mitigate human–turtle interactions.

Publisher

MDPI AG

Reference65 articles.

1. Bolten, A. (2003). Biology and Conservation of Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Smithsonian Institution Press.

2. Casale, P. (2010). Sea turtles in the Mediterranean: Distribution, Threats and Conservation Priorities, IUCN.

3. Long-term residence of juvenile loggerhead turtles to foraging grounds: A potential conservation hotspot in the Mediterranean;Casale;Aquat. Conserv. Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst.,2012

4. Movement patterns of marine turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: A review;Luschi;Ital. J. Zool.,2014

5. Mediterranean sea turtles: Current knowledge and priorities for conservation and research;Casale;Endanger. Species Res.,2018

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