2nd ASEAN Symposium and Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. Click here

World’s first Trans-Boundary Marine Park between Sabah, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Introduction to the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA)

History in the Development Of The Sabah - Philippines TIHPA

Management Objectives of the TIHPA

Institutional arrangements

Key Initiatives

Educational Goals Initiative Marked For Critical Funding

Research Objectives and Strategies

Economic Opportunities

Expected Deliverables

News Around the Region

Sharp decline in Turtle population

Turning to a Turtle Haven

2nd ASEAN Symposium and Workshop on 
Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation

SESSION 3: Beyond the Beach....

ABSTRACTS

 

Hatchling sea turtles emerge from underground nests, orient toward the ocean and swim rapidly away from the beach to offshore nursery areas. During their offshore migration, hatchlings are highly motivated to swim and maintain oriented courses (the frenzy and post frenzy swimming). During the frenzy period, hatchlings swim for at least 24 hours without stopping as they distance themselves from predator-rich near shore waters. Hatchlings typically rest by their second night in the water, then resume active, oriented swimming by daylight. Frenzy duration is the same in all species tested, to date. However, post frenzy oriented swimming patterns differ among species and populations. For example, Dermochelys hatchlings swim more during the nighttime than cheloniids leaving from the same beaches. This may reflect differences in motivation and/or responses to external cues. During their offshore swim, hatchlings maintain oriented courses by responding to external cues (waves and magnetic cues). By swimming into waves, hatchlings are able to hold courses that lead them offshore. During the offshore swim, hatchlings calibrate a magnetic compass sense. This magnetic compass sense allows them to navigate from novel locations to appropriate regions within their nursery areas. It is hypothesized that magnetic cues also guide long-distance migrations between feeding and breeding grounds.