Diving Behavior Of Immature Hawksbills (Eretmochelys Imbricata) In A Caribbean Cliff Wall Habitat

    Authors

    R. P. vanDam;C. E. Diez

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Mar. Biol.

    Keywords

    SEA-TURTLE; DERMOCHELYS-CORIACEA; CHELONIA-MYDAS; TEMPERATURES; Marine & Freshwater Biology

    Abstract

    Time-depth recorders were attached to immature hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766) residing at the northwestern cliffs of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Data on diving profiles obtained from four turtles of 32.0 to 53.4 cm straight carapace length revealed strong similarities in behavioral patterns. During daylight hours, turtles were active an average 8.4 h per day, surfacing 3.6% of the time. Length of foraging dives correlated with turtle size, with mean durations ranging from 8.6 to 14.0 min. Foraging dives, with a mean depth of 4.7 m, were associated with feeding on encrusting sponges. At night, turtles were mostly inactive, surfacing 1.8% of the time and with individual mean submergence intervals of between 30.4 and 37.1 min. From the surfacing behavior of turtles making deep and long dives, it is inferred that dives were aerobic? with the turtles making use of oxygen stores in addition to that of the lung.

    Journal Title

    Marine Biology

    Volume

    127

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-1996

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    171

    Last Page

    178

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1996VW87400020

    ISSN

    0025-3162

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