Satellite Sea Surface Temperature Analysis and Correlation with Sea Turtle Distribution off North Carolina
We used satellite sea surface temperature data and aerial survey data to identify an upper (28 C) and lower (13.3 C) thermal limit to preferred loggerhead sea turtle temperatures. The available temperature range for the turtles to occupy, during this study (May 1991 to Sept. 1992), was 4.9 C to 32.2 C. These thermal limits fall within the ranges previously identified in the laboratory. This study suggests that sea turtles are not geographically randomly distributed but stay within preferred temperature ranges which are seasonally variable.Abstract
Mercator projection of a satellite image of Cape Hatteras North Carolina for 7 April 1992. An overlay of the 18 flight transects (white lines) are grouped (six lines per group) into north, middle and south groups. Each group was continuously flown, with observing breaks occurring between groups. The turtle locations are shown as black points along the flight lines. Large white and black regions and cold temperature discontinuities are caused by cloud cover, depending on thickness of cloud. Turtles along the northern transects (influenced by cloud cover) were not included in the calculations. The color bar at the top shows temperatures in degrees Celsius
Temperature versus frequency plot of satellite image pixels along flight line transects for warm and cold months. The number above each bar represents the number of turtles seen at that temperature. Percentages indicate the percent of the temperatures above or below that point. The asterisk indicates the mean temperature