Home range of immature hawksbill turtles ( Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus)) at two Caribbean islands

Distances between capture and recapture locations of tagged immature hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus) are analyzed for four near-shore survey sites at Mona and Monito Islands, Puerto Rico. Data were obtained for 87 turtles ranging in size from 20.0 to 56.7 cm straight-line carapace length. Net displacements by individual turtles averaged 0.45 km (S.D.=0.66, range 0.00–5.22) for mean inter-capture intervals of 465 days (S.D.=331, range 9–1118). Measured displacements were not correlated with turtle size and did not differ significantly between survey sites. Movements of three immature turtles fitted with sonic tags were monitored by acoustical tracking in reef habitats along the southwestern coast of Mona Island. The area utilized by the turtles during the 11–16 days of tracking measured 0.07–0.21 km 2. It is concluded that immature hawksbill turtles maintain a limited home range area and appear resident at the feeding grounds of Mona and Monito Islands for periods of at least several years.