Emeline McMann-Chapman is an Upwell Research Assistant. She assists with collection and analysis of stranding data on cold-stunned sea turtles on the Pacific coast. She recently had the opportunity to assist Upwell and NOAA’s leatherback tagging team in Monterey Bay.
Studying Turtles at Sea Offers Deeper Insights
Data collected at nesting beaches give us only a brief glimpse into sea turtles’ intricate life histories. Satellite tags are one of the best tools available to collect data on sea turtle movements and behaviors in marine habitats. But where tags are deployed matters. Deploying tags at nesting beaches means we are limiting our research scope to the females within a population that are nesting in a given year.
Discovering the Origins of Leatherbacks in the California Current
At the turn of the millennium, the origin of leatherback turtles in California waters was unproven. Many assumed they originated from nesting beaches in Mexico or Costa Rica; few could have imagined the extent of their travels across the entire Pacific Ocean. We know now that West Pacific leatherbacks only make their epic trans-Pacific migration about every three to five years. Unfortunately, the batteries on early satellite tags didn’t last long enough to track their whole migration.
Upwell Featured in Carmel Magazine
Leatherback Sea Turtles and Ecosystem Health in the California Current
Leatherbacks from above
The leatherbacks have returned to the central California coast! In partnership with NOAA, Upwell is conducting aerial surveys to locate critically endangered leatherback turtles in California's waters. Learn more about graduate student, Sharon Hsu's first-hand experience as an Upwell Observer aboard these flights.