Ecological traps in sea turtles: emerging challenges within coastal social–ecological systems

The rapid pace of human-induced environmental change (HIREC) has led to the emergence of ecological traps—situations in which organisms preferentially select habitats based on misleading environmental cues, despite those habitats reducing their fitness, significantly impacting vulnerable species such as sea turtles. This study reviews the concept of ecological traps through a systematic and expert-guided literature review focused on sea turtle ecology, coastal systems, and social–ecological dynamics. From the review, we found that sea turtles’ vulnerability to ecological traps is associated with strong site fidelity, reliance on environmental cues, and exposure to human-induced changes across coastal and marine habitats. However, most studies focused on nesting and hatching, while potential traps in marine foraging habitats remained less investigated. Only a few studies simultaneously evaluated habitat preference, habitat quality, and fitness consequences, which are necessary to empirically identify ecological traps. Such integrated assessments are particularly relevant for identifying potential ecological traps arising from coastal planning, fisheries management, and habitat restoration interventions. Despite the need for further knowledge, research on this topic remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where ecological traps have been observed but not systematically analyzed. This review proposes elements to support the integration of ecological trap theory into coastal management and governance strategies for sea turtle conservation under rapid environmental change.