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A comparative approach to understanding sea turtle hatchling metabolism during emergence

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Date Issued:
2000
Summary:
Sea turtle nests were compared to determine the effects of nest depth on hatchling anaerobic metabolism in Juno Beach, Florida, USA. In situ nests of 3 species (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas and Dermochelys coriacea) were compared. Relocated loggerhead nests were studied under an experimental regime. Nest temperatures and oxygen concentrations were monitored. On the night of first emergence, blood samples were taken from hatchlings resting at the nest chamber bottom and sand surface, and digging to the sand surface. Samples were analyzed for lactate concentrations. Blood lactate levels were high in hatchlings actively digging and low for those resting. Lactate levels differed among species and nest depths. Within in situ nests, actively digging green turtle hatchlings had the highest lactate, followed by loggerhead hatchlings and leatherbacks (lowest). Loggerhead hatchlings digging from deeper relocated nests had higher lactate than those digging from shallower depths.
Title: A comparative approach to understanding sea turtle hatchling metabolism during emergence.
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Name(s): Redfearn, Erin Cherish.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Wyneken, Jeanette
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2000
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 115 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Sea turtle nests were compared to determine the effects of nest depth on hatchling anaerobic metabolism in Juno Beach, Florida, USA. In situ nests of 3 species (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas and Dermochelys coriacea) were compared. Relocated loggerhead nests were studied under an experimental regime. Nest temperatures and oxygen concentrations were monitored. On the night of first emergence, blood samples were taken from hatchlings resting at the nest chamber bottom and sand surface, and digging to the sand surface. Samples were analyzed for lactate concentrations. Blood lactate levels were high in hatchlings actively digging and low for those resting. Lactate levels differed among species and nest depths. Within in situ nests, actively digging green turtle hatchlings had the highest lactate, followed by loggerhead hatchlings and leatherbacks (lowest). Loggerhead hatchlings digging from deeper relocated nests had higher lactate than those digging from shallower depths.
Identifier: 9780599640863 (isbn), 15770 (digitool), FADT15770 (IID), fau:12522 (fedora)
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2000.
Subject(s): Sea turtles--Metabolism
Loggerhead turtle
Green turtle
Leatherback turtle
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15770
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.