Diving behaviour of hawksbill turtles during the inter-nesting interval: Strategies to conserve energy

Walcott, J.; Eckert, Scott A.; Horrocks, Julia A.

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.007

Cited by 12 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…For details on individual selection criteria and equipment used see Walcott et al (2012Walcott et al ( , 2013. Walcott et al (2012) focused primarily on the alongshore movement patterns of gravid females during internesting intervals, while Walcott et al (2013) focused on their diving behaviour during various stages of the inter-nesting interval. Data collected revealed the use of spatially restricted nearshore areas, termed RAs, by each study animal (see Walcott et al 2012).…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 to 3 mo; Bell & Parmenter 2008, Hart et al 2010 compared to the intervening years in their traditional foraging grounds, it is a critical time for these animals, as they must conserve energy to lay 4 to 5 clutches of eggs during the breeding season (see Walcott et al 2012Walcott et al , 2013. It is therefore predicted that optimal habitats should be selected and utilised over the course of the shortterm residency at breeding grounds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tucker & Read 2001, Cheng et al 2013. Analysis of dive profiles has suggested that inter-nesting females around Barbados do not feed (Walcott et al 2013). However, the habitats they use should provide refuge and resting oppor tunities adequate to support the animals during the process of egg development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the habitats they use should provide refuge and resting oppor tunities adequate to support the animals during the process of egg development. For instance, the length of the inter-nesting interval, which is at least partly dependent on the rate of egg development, is affected by water temperature (Scho field et al 2009, Walcott et al 2013, and this may be a determining factor in influencing bottom depths used by gravid females. Identification of the key ecological features that characterise benthic habitats used by gravid females is therefore of the utmost importance in the management and protection of sea turtle breeding areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, ledges and overhangs provide opportunities for assisted resting, allowing animals to fill their lungs at the surface and use ledges to counter their buoyancy at depths. Fewer ascents for gaseous exchange can minimise energy expenditure, and presumably also the risk of predation (Houghton et al 2003, Blumenthal et al 2009, Stimmelmayr et al 2010, Walcott et al 2013. Particular ledge locations may also confer thermoregulatory benefits (Stimmelmayr et al 2010) and cleaning opportunities (Sazima et al 2004), derived from microhabitats found within reef environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of a towed camera system to investigate benthic habitat use by inter-nesting female hawksbill sea turtles

Walcott¹,

Eckert²,

Oxenford³

et al. 2014

Endang. Species. Res.

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The types of marine benthic habitats utilised by hawksbill sea turtles Eretmochelys imbricata nesting at Needham's Point, Barbados, were investigated using an underwater drop camera. Habitats used preferentially (i.e. those within high-use areas) tended to be high relief and densely covered with biota, characterised by high abundance of hard corals and shallower than less frequented areas. These structurally complex habitats offered opportunities for rest and refuge, but not for foraging, with females showing no preference for sites with high sponge abundance. Females appeared to trade off site quality (i.e. based on benthic relief, cover and species composition) against the energy expended to get there, travelling long distances (up to 21.2 km) to higher-quality sites.

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Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Use of a towed camera system to investigate benthic habitat use by inter-nesting female hawksbill sea turtles

Walcott¹,

Eckert²,

Oxenford³

et al. 2014

Endang. Species. Res.

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Green and Hawksbill Sea turtles of Eastern Atlantic: New insights into a globally important rookery in the Gulf of Guinea

Ferreira‐Airaud,

Vieira,

Branco

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Sea turtles are critical components of marine ecosystems, and their conservation is important for Ocean Governance and Global Planet Health. However, there is limited knowledge of their ecology in the Gulf of Guinea. To fill this knowledge gap, this study presents the first integrative assessment of green and hawksbill turtles in the region, combining nesting surveys over 9 years and telemetry data, to offer insights into these population dynamics, and behaviours, including nesting preferences, morphological and reproductive parameters, diving patterns and inter‐nesting core‐use areas. Both green and hawksbill turtles are likely making a recovery on São Tomé, potentially driven by sustained conservation efforts. There are preliminary indications of recovery, but we interpret this cautiously. Coupled with satellite tracking, this study estimated that 482 to 736 green turtles and 135 to 217 hawksbills nest on the beaches of São Tomé. Their movements overlap significantly with a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA), which suggests they may be well placed for conservation if managed appropriately. However, the presence of artisanal fisheries and emerging threats, such as sand mining and unregulated tourism, highlight the urgent need for robust management strategies that align global conservation objectives with local socioeconomic realities. This study significantly enhances our understanding of the ecology and conservation needs of the green and hawksbill turtles in the Gulf of Guinea. The insights gleaned here can contribute to the development of tailored conservation strategies that benefit these populations and the ecosystem services upon which they depend.

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Diving behavior and thermal habitats of gravid hawksbill turtles at St. Croix, USA

et al. 2016

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29.06 ± SD 0.43 °C). Two turtles attained the deepest recorded dives for gravid hawksbills (95.1 and 84.4 m) and sometimes remained at depths greater than 60 m for up to 30 min. Although we recorded instances of relatively deep diving for the species, the overall pattern of seafloor resting and infrequent diving was consistent with hawksbills in other ocean basins with different offshore habitats. We propose that benthic resting is common behavior for gravid hawksbills globally, and protection of benthic habitats near the nesting beach should be a management priority.

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Diving behaviour of hawksbill turtles during the inter-nesting interval: Strategies to conserve energy

Cited by 12 publications

References 54 publications

Use of a towed camera system to investigate benthic habitat use by inter-nesting female hawksbill sea turtles

Use of a towed camera system to investigate benthic habitat use by inter-nesting female hawksbill sea turtles

Green and Hawksbill Sea turtles of Eastern Atlantic: New insights into a globally important rookery in the Gulf of Guinea

Diving behavior and thermal habitats of gravid hawksbill turtles at St. Croix, USA

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