Fine‐scale movement and habitat use of juvenile, subadult, and adult green turtles ( Chelonia mydas ) in a foraging ground at Ningaloo Reef, Australia

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Ningaloo Reef exhibit high fidelity to their foraging grounds, with juveniles, subadults, and adults showing distinct habitat preferences and movement patterns. Juveniles (42–63.5 cm CCL) are confined to shallow inshore seagrass and macroalgae habitats, while larger turtles (subadults: 68.6–84.6 cm; adults: 81.9–104.2 cm) utilize deeper lagoon and patch reef areas. Acoustic telemetry tracking over up to 913 days revealed that residence time decreases with body size, while home range expands, suggesting spatial segregation by life stage. Juveniles exhibit tidal movement patterns, moving closer to shore at high tide, whereas subadults and adults show no such pattern. The study highlights the potential for go-slow zones to mitigate boat strikes in high-density areas, given the turtles' small, stable home ranges. These findings provide critical insights for long-term conservation strategies, emphasizing the need for targeted monitoring of turtle populations in foraging grounds.

Pillans, R. D., Whiting, S. D., Tucker, A. D., & Vanderklift, M. A. (2022). Fine‐scale movement and habitat use of juvenile, subadult, and adult green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in a foraging ground at Ningaloo Reef, Australia. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 32(8), 1323–1340. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3832