Title

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

Authors

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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