In a world-first breakthrough, scientists have used high-tech turtle trackers, complete with motion sensors, GPS and video cameras, to uncover exactly where and when flatback turtles go to feed and rest in Broome’s Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park.

By analysing this data with a cutting-edge method, researchers have created behaviour-specific habitat models to understand which parts of the bay turtles prefer for foraging and which for resting. This is the first time such detailed habitat suitability mapping has been done for a marine species and provides a new tool for the dynamic management of threatened species.

Lead author Dr Jenna Hounslow, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Murdoch University, said it was a major leap forward in conservation science.

“By identifying the locations and the exact environmental conditions (such as tides, currents and depth) that marine turtles prefer for different underwater activities, we can provide smarter and more targeted protection of habitat,” Dr Hounslow said.

“In Roebuck Bay, we found that flatback turtles were most likely to forage in shallow, nearshore water especially during high tide, whereas resting mostly happened in slightly deeper waters.

“Pleasingly, most of the suitable flatback turtle foraging and resting habitats are already protected within the Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park and Yawuru Indigenous Protected Area.”

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions scientist and co-author Dr Sabrina Fossette said the results of this study will help inform conservation management of flatback turtles in and around Roebuck Bay.

“More detailed understanding of habitat use will enable better cross-sector management across conservation agencies, industry and Indigenous groups of this vulnerable and uniquely Australian species.”

“Understanding how and why turtles are using different parts of their habitat throughout the year is critical for conservation planning and the dynamic management of habitat and overlapping use zones, such as marine parks and commercial zones.”

Murdoch University senior lecturer and senior author Dr Adrian Gleiss said the methods could be widely applied to improve decision making for the conservation of threatened species worldwide.

“Incorporating behavioural data into predictive modelling is a valuable enhancement to the suite of practical tools used by conservation planners for threatened species management,” Dr Gleiss said.

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The study “Incorporating fine-scale behaviours into habitat suitability modelling; a case study for sea turtles” was published in the journal Ecological Applications. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.70095