Data from: Network analysis of sea turtle movements and connectivity: a tool for conservation prioritization

Aim: Understanding the spatial ecology of animal movements is a critical
element in conserving long-lived, highly mobile marine species. Analysing
networks developed from movements of six sea turtle species reveals marine
connectivity and can help prioritize conservation efforts. Location:
Global. Methods: We collated telemetry data from 1,235 individuals and
reviewed the literature to determine our dataset’s representativeness. We
used the telemetry data to develop spatial networks at different scales to
examine areas, connections, and their geographic arrangement. We used
graph theory metrics to compare networks across regions and species and to
identify the role of important areas and connections. Results: Relevant
literature and citations for data used in this study had very little
overlap. Network analysis showed that sampling effort influenced network
structure and the arrangement of areas and connections for most networks
was complex. However, important areas and connections identified by graph
theory metrics can be different than areas of high data density. For the
global network, marine regions in the Mediterranean had high closeness
while links with high betweenness among marine regions in the South
Atlantic were critical for maintaining connectivity. Comparisons among
species-specific networks showed that functional connectivity was related
to movement ecology, resulting in networks composed of different areas and
links. Main conclusions: Network analysis identified the structure and
functional connectivity of the sea turtles in our sample at multiple
scales. These network characteristics could help guide the coordination of
management strategies for wide-ranging animals throughout their geographic
extent. Most networks had complex structures that can contribute to
greater robustness, but may be more difficult to manage changes when
compared to simpler forms. Area-based conservation measures would benefit
sea turtle populations when directed towards areas with high closeness
dominating network function. Promoting seascape connectivity of links with
high betweenness would decrease network vulnerability.