Threatened North African seagrass meadows have supported green turtle populations for millennia

is the second official aim of the current UN Ocean Decade (2021 to 2030) calling for the identification and protection of critical marine habitats. However, data to inform policy are often lacking altogether or confined to recent times, preventing the establishment of long-term baselines. The unique...

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Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 120; no. 30; p. e2220747120
Main Authors: de Kock, Willemien, Mackie, Meaghan, Ramsøe, Max, Allentoft, Morten E, Broderick, Annette C, Haywood, Julia C, Godley, Brendan J, Snape, Robin T E, Bradshaw, Phil J, Genz, Hermann, von Tersch, Matthew, Dee, Michael W, Palsbøll, Per J, Alexander, Michelle, Taurozzi, Alberto J, Çakırlar, Canan
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 25.07.2023
Subjects:
Africa, Northern
Alismatales
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Biodiversity
Ecology
Ecosystem
Endangered Species
Mediterranean Region
Mediterranean Sea
Turtles
Africa, Northern
Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Region
historical ecology
stable isotope analysis
paleoproteomics
sea turtles
bioarchaeology
ISSN:1091-6490, 1091-6490
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:is the second official aim of the current UN Ocean Decade (2021 to 2030) calling for the identification and protection of critical marine habitats. However, data to inform policy are often lacking altogether or confined to recent times, preventing the establishment of long-term baselines. The unique insights gained from combining bioarchaeology (palaeoproteomics, stable isotope analysis) with contemporary data (from satellite tracking) identified habitats which sea turtles have been using in the Eastern Mediterranean over five millennia. Specifically, our analysis of archaeological green turtle ( ) bones revealed that they likely foraged on the same North African seagrass meadows as their modern-day counterparts. Here, millennia-long foraging habitat fidelity has been directly demonstrated, highlighting the significance (and long-term dividends) of protecting these critical coastal habitats that are especially vulnerable to global warming. We highlight the potential for historical ecology to inform policy in safeguarding critical marine habitats.
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ISSN:1091-6490
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.2220747120