• Citer

Poleward migration of sea turtles: climate change, habitat loss and emerging threats

par Duquesne, Edouard ;Fournier, Denis
Référence Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation(June 29ᵗʰ - July 4ᵗʰ, 2025: Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico), Proceedings of the 61ˢᵗ Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Publication Publié, 2025-07-02

Publication dans des actes

• Détails
• Contenu

Résumé :

Climate change is reshaping the distribution of species globally, impacting ecosystems across the Earth. As temperatures rise, tropical and subtropical keystones species like sea turtles face unprecedented challenges, including migration toward cooler regions. Already threatened by pollution and vessel strikes, sea turtles now confront additional risks from shifting habitats and inadequate conservation measures.Our study predicts the current and future distributions of all seven sea turtle species under three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) for two timeframes (2050-2100). Using species occurrence data from 2000 to 2024 and a comprehensive set of explanatory variables (physical, chemical, biological and topographic), we constructed ensemble species distribution models to evaluate changes in habitat suitability.Our models reveal significant latitudinal shifts toward colder regions, with four species experiencing important declines in suitable habitat, while three show slight range expansions. Alarmingly, over 50% of sea turtles hotspots could disappear by 2050 under SSP5-8.5 scenario, with redistribution into high-intensity shipping areas posing new threats. Currently, only 22% of sea turtles hotspots overlap with marine protected areas. These findings underscore the urgent need for adaptative, climate-responsive conservation strategies to mitigate emerging threats and safeguard these vital marine species.