Insights into habitat utilisation of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766), using acoustic telemetry

Patterns of distribution, key biometric parameters and home range extent were determined for hawksbill turtles at Lighthouse Reef Atoll (LRA), Belize over two field seasons (16days, 2009; 30days, 2010). Relative abundance was determined using 49 sightings transects (≈1km) distributed across the atoll and of all turtles encountered (n=68), 91% were immature (CCLmin≤65cm). Habitat type was significantly correlated with abundance, with more turtles encountered on the coral reef than in the lagoon (GzLMM, Χ2 2=6.85, p<0.05; CPUE reef=1.41turtlesh-1, CPUE lagoon=0.62turtlesh-1). Hawksbills were also significantly more abundant within protected areas (GzLMM, Χ2 1=8.69, p