Satellite sea surface temperature analysis and correlation with sea turtledistribution off North Carolina

We used satellite sea surface temperature data and aerial survey data to id entify an upper (28 C) and lower (13.3 C) thermal limit to preferred logger head sea turtle temperatures. The available temperature range for the turtl es to occupy, during this study (May 1991 to Sept. 1992), was 4.9 C to 32.2 C. These thermal limits fall within the ranges previously identified in th e laboratory. This study suggests that sea turtles are not geographically r andomly distributed but stay within preferred temperature ranges which are seasonally variable.