The behaviour of a hawksbill turtle data-logged during the passage of hurricane Georges through the Caribbean

Storch, Sandra; Hays, Graeme C.; Hillis‐Starr, Zandy; Wilson, Rory P.

doi:10.1080/10236240600919796

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…obs. ), possibly in order to use these for shelter (van Dam & Diez 1997a, Storch et al 2006) and maximize dive duration by employing these as a roof to counteract the positive buoyant affect of inhaled air (Houghton et al 2003). The ultrasonic telemetry signals are known to be blocked when the transmitter is surrounded by structures such as rock reef and raised corals (Arendt et al 2001, Mitamura et al 2005, Yokota et al 2006, Kawabata et al 2008.…”

Section: Diel Behavioral Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These results suggest that the head-started turtles were resting during the nocturnal period, but that their resting places were not as surrounded by structures as were those of the wild turtles. This could mean that head-started turtles will be carried away by strong currents under hazardous sea conditions such as a hurricane, or consume unnecessary energy in order to remain in the same place as opposed to wild turtles, which probably take shelter during hurricanes (Storch et al 2006). In addition, head-started turtles might not maximize their dive duration, because they have positive buoyancy in shallow water when they breathe fully (Houghton et al 2003).…”

Section: Diel Behavioral Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wild versus head-started hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata: post-release behavior and feeding adaptions

Okuyama¹,

Shimizu²,

Abe³

et al. 2010

Endang. Species. Res.

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To ensure the success of reintroduction programs, it is important to monitor the postrelease behavior and survival of released animals. In this study, the post-release movement and behavior of 5 wild and 5 head-started hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata were monitored using ultrasonic telemetry. Their dispersal directions and recaptures may indicate that wild turtles perform homing migrations. However, the head-started turtles showed non-uniform patterns in dispersal movements. Four head-started turtles moved out of the monitoring area in various directions, whereas one turtle stayed within the monitoring area for approx. 10 mo. These results might indicate that head-started turtles wander aimlessly in their new surroundings. Signal reception patterns indicated that wild turtles were active in the daytime and rested under the coral at night. Although the head-started turtles also rest at night, their resting places did not seem to be sheltered from hazardous sea conditions or adequate for efficient resting. Therefore, head-started hawksbill turtles appear to need pre-release training such as exposure to structures or ledges in the rearing tank so they can utilize similar structures in the wild for shelter during rest periods and maximize their dive duration by employing these as a roof to counteract the positive buoyant effect of inhaled air. Prey analysis of a head-started turtle captured incidentally demonstrates that these turtles can make feeding adaptations to adjust to the natural environment. These findings provide constructive information for the implementation and improvement of head-start programs.

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Section: Diel Behavioral Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Diel Behavioral Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild versus head-started hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata: post-release behavior and feeding adaptions

Okuyama¹,

Shimizu²,

Abe³

et al. 2010

Endang. Species. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It would therefore seem that sea turtles tend to optimize energy reserves in a way best suited to local environmental conditions (Houghton et al, 2002) and, when inter-nesting sea turtles are exposed to storms or hurricanes, it could be expected to cause changes in their behavior to cope with the severe oceanographic conditions. Two studies have examined the effect of severe weather conditions on the behavior of a loggerhead turtle (Sakamoto et al, 1990b) and a hawksbill turtle (Storch et al, 2006). Both studies found changed swimming behavior by turtles during the storm passage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both studies found changed swimming behavior by turtles during the storm passage. The hawksbill encountering hurricane George in the Caribbean made shorter dives and spent less time at the surface (Storch et al, 2006). A loggerhead turtle encountering a typhoon made more dives and increased the dive depth and time spent at depth to avoid the wave action (Sakamoto et al, 1990b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) dive behavior associated with tropical storm passage during the inter-nesting period

Wilson

Tucker

Beedholm

et al. 2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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To improve conservation strategies for threatened sea turtles, more knowledge on their ecology, behavior, and how they cope with severe and changing weather conditions is needed. Satellite and animal motion datalogging tags were used to study the inter-nesting behavior of two female loggerhead turtles in the Gulf of Mexico, which regularly has hurricanes and tropical storms during nesting season. We contrast the behavioral patterns and swimming energetics of these two turtles, the first tracked in calm weather and the second tracked before, during and after a tropical storm. Turtle 1 was highly active and swam at the surface or submerged 95% of the time during the entire inter-nesting period, with a high estimated specific oxygen consumption rate (0.95 ml min kg). Turtle 2 was inactive for most of the first 9 days of the inter-nesting period, during which she rested at the bottom (80% of the time) with low estimated oxygen consumption (0.62 ml min kg). Midway through the inter-nesting period, turtle 2 encountered a tropical storm and became highly active (swimming 88% of the time during and 95% after the storm). Her oxygen consumption increased significantly to 0.97 ml min kg during and 0.98 ml min kg after the storm. However, despite the tropical storm, turtle 2 returned to the nesting beach, where she successfully re-nested 75 m from her previous nest. Thus, the tropical storm had a minor effect on this female's individual nesting success, even though the storm caused 90% loss nests at Casey Key.

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“…The hawksbill is a shallow diver that rarely descends beyond 15m (e.g. van Dam and Diez, 1996;Storch et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogenetic changes in tracheal structure facilitate deep dives and cold water foraging in adult leatherback sea turtles

Davenport

Fraher

Fitzgerald

et al. 2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYAdult leatherbacks are large animals (300-500kg), overlapping in size with marine pinniped and cetacean species. Unlike marine mammals, they start their aquatic life as 40-50g hatchlings, so undergo a 10,000-fold increase in body mass during independent existence. Hatchlings are limited to the tropics and near-surface water. Adults, obligate predators on gelatinous plankton, encounter cold water at depth (<1280m) or high latitude and are gigantotherms that maintain elevated core body temperatures in cold water. This study shows that there are great ontogenetic changes in tracheal structure related to diving and exposure to cold. Hatchling leatherbacks have a conventional reptilian tracheal structure with circular cartilaginous rings interspersed with extensive connective tissue. The adult trachea is an almost continuous ellipsoidal cartilaginous tube composed of interlocking plates, and will collapse easily in the upper part of the water column during dives, thus avoiding pressure-related structural and physiological problems. It is lined with an extensive, dense erectile vascular plexus that will warm and humidify cold inspired air and possibly retain heat on expiration. A sub-luminal lymphatic plexus is also present. Mammals and birds have independently evolved nasal turbinates to fulfil such a respiratory thermocontrol function; for them, turbinates are regarded as diagnostic of endothermy. This is the first demonstration of a turbinate equivalent in a living reptile.

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The behaviour of a hawksbill turtle data-logged during the passage of hurricane Georges through the Caribbean

Cited by 12 publications

References 24 publications

Wild versus head-started hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata: post-release behavior and feeding adaptions

Wild versus head-started hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata: post-release behavior and feeding adaptions

Changes of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) dive behavior associated with tropical storm passage during the inter-nesting period

Ontogenetic changes in tracheal structure facilitate deep dives and cold water foraging in adult leatherback sea turtles

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