Atlantic connectivity of a major green sea turtle Chelonia mydas foraging aggregation at the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania

A groundbreaking study reveals significant transatlantic connectivity among green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), challenging previous assumptions about their migration patterns. Analyzing 323 turtles at the Banc d'Arguin National Park, Mauritania—a critical foraging site—researchers found that 87.6% of immature individuals likely originated from the Poilão rookery in Guinea-Bissau, with notable contributions (11.6%) from distant South American and potentially Ascension Island rookeries. This suggests more frequent transatlantic movements than previously recognized. The study employed mitochondrial DNA analysis, including D-loop haplotypes and short tandem repeats, to compare genetic structures across Atlantic foraging aggregations, highlighting the Banc d'Arguin's role as a regional hub. These findings underscore the need for broad-scale conservation strategies that account for ocean-wide connectivity.

Patrício, A., Coveney, S., Barbanti, A., Barbosa, C., Broderick, A., El’Bar, N., Godley, B., Hancock, J., Regalla, A., Senhoury, C., Sidina, E., de Thoisy, B., Tilley, D., Weber, S., & Catry, P. (2024). Atlantic connectivity of a major green sea turtle Chelonia mydas foraging aggregation at the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania. Endangered Species Research, 54, 365–382. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01345