NOAA Science Seminar: Identifying critical in-water habitat for leatherbacks nesting at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix, USVI

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Identifying critical in-water habitat for leatherbacks nesting at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix, USVI

Presenter(s): Christina Mauney, Graduate Fellow, NOAA/ Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Office of Education (OED), Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Seminar Contact: Natasha White; NOAA/OED/EPP/MSI, natasha.white@noaa.gov 

Location: Webinar

Remote Access: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5159739119329280349 

Abstract: The study of animal movement patterns allows for a better understanding of animal behavior and their response to their environment. Marine animal movement occurs in response to biotic and abiotic factors – among them, predator avoidance, prey distribution, and ocean circulation. Movement studies are especially important for highly migratory species such as the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), which use large geographic regions over space and time. Declines in Northwest Atlantic Regional Management Unit (RMU) populations of leatherbacks since 2009 have created an immediate need to fill knowledge gaps on the location and physical properties of their preferred habitats. The goals of this study were to identify where leatherbacks go during the interesting interval, to delineate important in-water habitats, and to determine nesting characteristics that could contribute to leatherback declines. Nighttime nesting surveys were conducted, and 10 satellite tags were deployed on nesting female leatherback turtles at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR), St. Croix, USVI. The home range for the Sandy Point leatherbacks was identified using an Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimation (AKDE) approach, and the nesting characteristics of each satellite-tagged individual were examined. 

Bio: Christina (Nina) Mauney is a 2021 EPP/MSI Graduate Fellow and master’s student at the NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems. She studies in the Marine Landscape Ecology Lab at California State University Monterey Bay under the leadership of Dr. Corey Garza and the Vertebrate Ecology Lab at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. She conducted her fellowship research at NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) Environmental Research Division (ERD) under the mentorship of Dr. Elliott Hazen.

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{Christina Mauney, MS Student, California State University Monterey Bay and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, NOAA EPP/MSI Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems, NOAA EPP/MSI Graduate Fellowship Program based at NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center SWFSC Environmental Research Division ERD}
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