Scientists Uncover Key Insights into Sea Turtles’ ‘Lost Years’
New research using satellite trackers reveals young sea turtles actively swim and navigate during their early life stages, challenging long-held assumptions.
- Researchers from the University of Central Florida tracked 114 young sea turtles using GPS tags to study their movements in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The study reveals that young turtles actively swim and make navigational decisions, rather than passively drifting with ocean currents as previously believed.
- The tagged turtles, including endangered species like green turtles and Kemp's ridleys, showed unexpected variability in movement between continental shelf waters and the open ocean.
- Developing solar-powered tags that could remain attached to fast-growing shells was a significant technological breakthrough for the research.
- The findings provide critical insights into how young sea turtles use the Gulf of Mexico, aiding conservation efforts for these endangered species.
Orlando Sentinel 
The Independent 