Diving behavior of immature hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in a Caribbean reef habitat

    Authors

    R. P. vanDam;C. E. Diez

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Coral Reefs

    Keywords

    CHELONIA-MYDAS; Marine & Freshwater Biology

    Abstract

    Time-depth recorders were deployed on immature hawksbill turtles at the southwestern reefs of Mona Island, Puerto Rico, to examine patterns of diving behavior. Diving profiles of 10-12 day duration were obtained from five turtles ranging in carapace length from 27-52 cm. Turtles exhibited contrasting diurnal and nocturnal diving behaviors. During daylight hours, dives were made 92% of the time, featured continuous depth variation and were attributed to foraging activity. Foraging dive duration increased with turtle size; individual mean dive durations ranged from 19-26 min; mean post-dive surface intervals ranged from 37-64s; mean depths ranged from 8-10 m. At night, dives were made 86% of the time to constant depths and were interpreted as resting behavior. Resting dive durations were not dependent on turtle size; individual mean dive durations ranged from 35-47 min; mean post-dive surface intervals ranged from 36-60 s; and mean depths from 7-10 m. Immature hawksbill turtles maintained short term home ranges several hundred meters in extension.

    Journal Title

    Coral Reefs

    Volume

    16

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-1997

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    133

    Last Page

    138

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1997XF86300007

    ISSN

    0722-4028

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