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Sea Turtle Migration
Most sea turtles migrate between foraging and nesting grounds, and seasonally to warmer waters. Often these migrations take them hundreds and even thousands of miles. With the use of satellite telemetry, scientists are able to track the movements of sea turtles between areas and even across entire ocean basins. The leatherback is the record holder of sea turtles, traveling an astounding 10,000 miles or more each year in search of jellyfish, crossing the entire Pacific Ocean from Asia to the West Coast of the United States to forage off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. For more about this amazing journey click here.
Sea turtles nest in tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. Both males and females will migrate to nesting areas to breed, generally in the area where they were born. Most Hawaiian green turtles that inhabit coastal regions of the main islands, migrate west to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to breed and nest. It is not known exactly how adult turtles are able to navigate to their natal (birth) beaches, however, researchers think they may use a number of clues including ocean currents, the earth's magnestic field, and water chemistry.
Did You Know?
- Leatherback sea turtles are among the most highly migratory animals on earth, traveling as many as 10,000 miles or more each year between foraging grounds in search of jellyfish.
- Loggerheads born in Japan migrate almost 8,000 miles to the rich waters off Baja, Mexico to feed and mature. Once they have reached sexual maturity, they migrate back to Japan to breed and nest. To read more about this amazing migration click here.
- The leatherback has a lightly pigmented (often pink) spot on the top of their head directly above their brain. It is thought that this allows light to reach the pineal gland which may be used for migration. The pineal gland is an endocrine gland found in vertebrates which affects wake/sleep patterns and functions to signal daylength. This combined with a change in temperature can signal a change in daylength and season which indicates migration time.
Links & Resources
How Sea Turtles Go Home Again- June 2010 Article
"Turtle Positioning System" Used for Oceanic Voyages
Orientation and Navigation of Sea Turtles-University of North Carolina Research
Magnetic Mapping in Sea Turtles
How Tracking Sea Turtles by Satellite Works
How Do Marine Turtles Return To The Same Beach To Lay Their Eggs?-Science Daily Article
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| © Dave Addison, Conservancy of SW FL When hatchlings emerge from the nest they use multiple cues to navigate to the water and out to open ocean. |
Go SEE Turtles!
Our trips support turtle conservation
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| © Mary Wozny Once in the water, hatchlings orient themselves perpendicular to the waves which leads them away from shore and to the open ocean. |
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| © Wallace J. Nichols Young loggerheads migrate across the Pacific to forage on red crabs in the rich coastal waters of Baja, Mexico. |
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| © Neil Osborne In the open ocean, turtles use the earth's magnetic field among other cues to navigate across thousands of miles of featureless terrain. |