in the southern part of the subunit, suggesting regular movements between the peninsular 

 Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the outer Florida Keys. Several sightings of 

 magnificent frigatebirds were also made over waters between 25 and 50 m deep. 



The offshore element included sooty and bridled terns, Cory's shearwaters, and 

 storm-petrels (Map 51). Sightings of these birds were rare and all were far offshore, 

 seaward of the 50-m contour. 



The bird fauna of SFLA contained fewer species in November than August. Of the 

 coastal forms, brown pelicans and magnificent frigatebirds occupied the same areas of 

 the survey subunit that they had during August. Least terns were absent in November. 

 Royal terns were more common and more widely distributed throughout the subunit with 

 to 50 m water depths (x = 24.3 m). Unidentified terns showed a similar distribution, 

 occurring inside the 50-m contour. Laughing gulls were more restricted to nearshore 

 situations, with 90% of all groups occurring within the 25-m contour. Herring gulls were 

 also in nearshore waters only. 



The offshore elements were rare and included Cory's shearwaters and black terns 

 in waters 30 to 60 m deep. 



Turtles in Texas 



The sparse sightings of turtles in Texas waters prevent conclusive analysis of 

 distributional variation. Table 19 lists these sightings, showing the water depth and 

 distance from shore for each observation. Two of the three Kemp's ridleys seen were 

 less than 30 km offshore in waters approximately 30 m deep (Map 52). The third ridley 

 was in much deeper water (i.e., 409 m) and approximately 100 km offshore. During 

 November one unidentified turtle (not a ridley) occurred 93 km from shore in water with 

 a depth of 127 m (Map 53). Three other turtles (one loggerhead and two unidentified 

 turtles) observed during August were within 100 km of shore in water less than 75 m deep 

 (Maps 52 and 53). 



All turtles observed in Texas were in proximity to water containing oil pancakes 

 or sheen. The ridley recorded in Texas was also in proximity to oiled water. Sargassum 

 was common in Texas waters, and four of five turtles seen during August were near large 

 large clumps or windrows of sargassum. 



Turtles in NFLA 



Loggerhead turtles occurred in waters with depths of less than 200 m (x = 34.8 m) 

 during August (Map 54). In 95% of the sightings of this species, water depths were less 

 than 100 m (Table 20). The unidentified turtles seen in NFLA (Map 55) ranged in waters 

 30 to 130 m in depth (x = 58.9 m) with 94% of all sightings in waters less than 100 m 

 deep. The single leatherback sighted in NFLA during August was in water 30 to 40 m 

 deep (Map 54). 



Turtles in SFLA 



Loggerhead turtles occurred in waters with depths of less than 91 m (x = 41.7 m) 

 during August (Map 56). In 80% of the sightings, water depths were less than 50 m (Table 

 20). Unidentified turtles were observed in waters averaging 38.8 m in depth with a 



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