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Home range and movements of juvenile Atlantic green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) on shallow reef habitats in Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America

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Date Issued:
2004
Summary:
This study's objectives were to determine if coastal (shallow-water, oceanic reef) aggregations of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) in Palm Beach, Florida occupied distinct home ranges and how these home ranges compared in size and resource availability with those studied elsewhere. Six immature green turtles were captured, measured, and subjected to esophageal lavage to determine diet. Each turtle was returned to its initial capture site within 24 h with an ultrasonic transmitter used to track movements. All turtles were <65 cm SCL, had ingested similar macroalgae, and occupied markedly small home ranges (mean = 2.38 +/- 1.78 km 2), largely restricted to the reef itself. Diving and feeding activity peaked during the day; at night, activity was minimal. The food and sleeping site resource distribution at this specific location coincides with the turtles' home range size and shape, with considerable overlap of core areas.
Title: Home range and movements of juvenile Atlantic green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) on shallow reef habitats in Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America.
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Name(s): Makowski, Christopher
Florida Atlantic University, Degree Grantor
Salmon, Michael, Thesis Advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Issued: 2004
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 47 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: This study's objectives were to determine if coastal (shallow-water, oceanic reef) aggregations of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) in Palm Beach, Florida occupied distinct home ranges and how these home ranges compared in size and resource availability with those studied elsewhere. Six immature green turtles were captured, measured, and subjected to esophageal lavage to determine diet. Each turtle was returned to its initial capture site within 24 h with an ultrasonic transmitter used to track movements. All turtles were <65 cm SCL, had ingested similar macroalgae, and occupied markedly small home ranges (mean = 2.38 +/- 1.78 km 2), largely restricted to the reef itself. Diving and feeding activity peaked during the day; at night, activity was minimal. The food and sleeping site resource distribution at this specific location coincides with the turtles' home range size and shape, with considerable overlap of core areas.
Identifier: 9780496262014 (isbn), 13160 (digitool), FADT13160 (IID), fau:10020 (fedora)
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2004.
Subject(s): Sea turtles--Florida--Palm Beach
Animal behavior
Wildlife conservation
Green turtle--Florida--Palm Beach
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13160
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.