Title

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

Authors

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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