Hydrodynamic stability in posthatchling loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles

Dougherty, Erin; Rivera, Gabriel; Blob, Richard W.; Wyneken, Jeanette

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2009.10.001

Cited by 12 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…While vertebral ridge profiles make it difficult to attach tags close to the turtle's center of gravity (near the first or second vertebral scutes; Dougherty et al 2010), we found that gluing small pieces of 5 mm neoprene to either side of the ridge provided an effective cushion, with the additional benefit of the positively buoyant material somewhat offsetting tag weight. The flexibility of the combined neoprene and silicone attachment allowed for growth to occur without altering carapace shape.…”

Section: Tag Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 79%

Satellite tag attachment methods for tracking neonate sea turtles

Mansfield

Wyneken²,

Rittschof³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Significant gaps exist in our understanding of early sea turtle life stages. Dispersal and habitat use of young oceanic sea turtles are largely inferred. Historically, available tracking technology and tag attachment methods were limited by small body sizes and rapid growth of neonate sea turtles. We tested methods in the laboratory for attaching small solar-powered satellite tags to neonate loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta, including harnesses, hard epoxy and neoprene-silicone mounts. Non-harness attachments were tested on turtles with clean carapaces and carapaces treated with an acrylic base-coat. Turtle growth and condition were measured among treatment and control groups. We tested surrogate solar cells, coated with clear silicone antifoulant for biofouling and performance, and field tested the performance of 7 solar-powered satellite tags on neonate loggerheads released off southeastern Florida (USA). Attachments with acrylic base-coats remained affixed 4-to 8-fold longer than on untreated carapaces. Harness attachments resulted in long-term tag retention (> 60 d). However, harness and hard epoxy attachments did not adjust for turtle growth; we do not recommend these methods for rapidly growing neonate turtles. The method with longest retention was a neoprene-silicone attachment on an acrylic base-coat. Growth and condition were comparable among treated and control turtles using this flexible neoprene-silicone-acrylic attachment. Field-tested tags transmitted for 38 to 172 d. There were significant differences in charge rates of tags treated with an antifoulant and untreated tags; however, all tags charged optimally and transmitted high-quality locations. Our data suggest that small solar-powered tags are viable tools for monitoring the in-water behavior of oceanic sea turtles.

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Section: Tag Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 79%

Satellite tag attachment methods for tracking neonate sea turtles

Mansfield

Wyneken²,

Rittschof³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…With one of these components entailing a change in locomotor direction, but the other resisting it, the potential for a tradeoff between the two is intuitive. Thus, flapping turtles, predicted to suffer low maneuverability, might be expected to benefit from enhanced stability (Dougherty et al 2010;Rivera et al 2011b). However, aquatic habitats are three-dimensional environments in which motion is possible in multiple directions.…”

Section: Performance Consequences Of Specialization For Aquatic Locommentioning

confidence: 99%

“…from one species of emydid turtle that swims using rowing motions of the limbs (painted turtles, Chrysemys picta) (Dougherty et al 2010;Rivera et al 2011b). Turtles (all similar in size) were trained to chase a prey stimulus, which was attached to a vertical sting that could be manually slid along a track suspended over a water-filled tank.…”

Section: Hydrodynamic Stability In Flapping Versus Rowing Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Turtles (all similar in size) were trained to chase a prey stimulus, which was attached to a vertical sting that could be manually slid along a track suspended over a water-filled tank. As we slid the stimulus along a straight path, we recorded and measured deviations of turtles from a straight swimming path in lateral and ventral views (Dougherty et al 2010;Rivera et al 2011b).…”

Section: Hydrodynamic Stability In Flapping Versus Rowing Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, rowing turtles also appear to be able to limit sideslip (lateral translations) by coordinated phasing of contralateral forelimb and hind limb movements. Such lateral stability may be difficult to achieve in sea turtles, in which it would require precise synchronization of both the speed and orientation of the bilaterally flapping forelimbs (Dougherty et al 2010;Rivera et al 2011b). It is important to acknowledge that our comparisons are based on a small number of species, and that taxa with different foraging strategies, or individuals of different sizes (e.g., adult sea turtles), could show different patterns of stability.…”

Section: Hydrodynamic Stability In Flapping Versus Rowing Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“On the Fence” versus “All in”: Insights from Turtles for the Evolution of Aquatic Locomotor Specializations and Habitat Transitions in Tetrapod Vertebrates

Blob

Mayerl

Rivera

et al. 2016

Integr. Comp. Biol.

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Synopsis Though ultimately descended from terrestrial amniotes, turtles have deep roots as an aquatic lineage and are quite diverse in the extent of their aquatic specializations. Many taxa can be viewed as ''on the fence'' between aquatic and terrestrial realms, whereas others have independently hyperspecialized and moved ''all in'' to aquatic habitats. Such differences in specialization are reflected strongly in the locomotor system. We have conducted several studies to evaluate the performance consequences of such variation in design, as well as the mechanisms through which specialization for aquatic locomotion is facilitated in turtles. One path to aquatic hyperspecialization has involved the evolutionary transformation of the forelimbs from rowing, tubular limbs with distal paddles into flapping, flattened flippers, as in sea turtles. Prior to the advent of any hydrodynamic advantages, the evolution of such flippers may have been enabled by a reduction in twisting loads on proximal limb bones that accompanied swimming in rowing ancestors, facilitating a shift from tubular to flattened limbs. Moreover, the control of flapping movements appears related primarily to shifts in the activity of a single forelimb muscle, the deltoid. Despite some performance advantages, flapping may entail a locomotor cost in terms of decreased locomotor stability. However, other morphological specializations among rowing species may enhance swimming stability. For example, among highly aquatic pleurodiran turtles, fusion of the pelvis to the shell appears to dramatically reduce motions of the pelvis compared to freshwater cryptodiran species. This could contribute to advantageous increases in aquatic stability among predominantly aquatic pleurodires. Thus, even within the potential constraints of a body plan in which the body is encased by a shell, turtles exhibit diverse locomotor capacities that have enabled diversification into a wide range of aquatic habitats.

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