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Title: A comparison of body proportions in juvenile sea turtles: how shape may optimize survival in a vulnerable life stage.
Creator: Pate, Jessica Hope, Salmon, Michael, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Marine turtles produce many offspring which offsets the high mortality experienced by turtles during early development. Juvenile mortality might be reduced by evolving effective behavioral as well as morphological anti-predator defenses. Body proportions of three species (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Dermochelys coriacea) of turtles were measured in the first fourteen weeks of development to examine how growth may mitigate predation by gape-limited predators. Growth was categorized as...
Show moreMarine turtles produce many offspring which offsets the high mortality experienced by turtles during early development. Juvenile mortality might be reduced by evolving effective behavioral as well as morphological anti-predator defenses. Body proportions of three species (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Dermochelys coriacea) of turtles were measured in the first fourteen weeks of development to examine how growth may mitigate predation by gape-limited predators. Growth was categorized as isometric if shape did not change during development or allometric if body shape did change. All three species showed allometric growth in carapace width; however it was less pronounced in the larger D. coriacea turtles. Allometric growth in carapace width decreased as all three species grew in size. When high predation occurs in early development, many species will favor rapid growth into a size refuge. Juvenile sea turtles may optimize their survival by growing allometrically when predation risk is the greatest.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004223, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004223
Subject Headings: Predation (Biology), Sea turtles -- Growth, Sea turtles -- Mortality, Sea turtles -- Population viability analysis
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Novel Interaction: The thin stripe hermit Crab, Clibanarius vittatus, kills the Florida crown conch, Melongena corona, for its shell.
Creator: Cutter, Jennifer, Devlin, Donna, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be...
Show moreThe hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be classified as competition because there is no opportunity for Melongena to gain from the interaction. Therefore the term “lethal eviction” is hereby proposed for this interaction. The ability to kill a gastropod to obtain a superior shell gives Clibanarius vittatus an evolutionary advantage over other hermit crab species. It is not known if the outcome of this interaction is widespread where both species occur or if it is confined to the study area.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004925, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004925
Subject Headings: Crabs--Behavior., Crab culture., Predation (Biology), Adaptation (Physiology), Aquatic ecology., Intertidal ecology., Conservation biology.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Aggressive Behaviors Of Adult Male Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) During Intraspecific And Interspecific Aggressive Interactions.
Creator: Volker, Cassandra L., Herzing, Denise L., Hughes, Colin, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are two sympatric species resident to the Bahamas. The visibility of the Bahamian water provided a unique opportunity to study spotted dolphin communication during aggression. This study’s main focus was to decipher any similarities or differences in the behaviors used by spotted dolphins during interspecific and intraspecific aggression. Both similarities and differences were discovered. Biting,...
Show moreAtlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are two sympatric species resident to the Bahamas. The visibility of the Bahamian water provided a unique opportunity to study spotted dolphin communication during aggression. This study’s main focus was to decipher any similarities or differences in the behaviors used by spotted dolphins during interspecific and intraspecific aggression. Both similarities and differences were discovered. Biting, following, and chasing behavioral events were used more during interspecific aggression, while the display behavioral class was used more than the contact behavioral class during intrabut not interspecific aggression. This study showed that spotted dolphins use more energy intensive and risky behaviors when fighting interspecifically. This could result from having to fight and defend females from a larger species, trying to avoid sexual harassment from bottlenose males, or needing to use behaviors that are more overt and easily understood during interspecies communication.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004638, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004638
Subject Headings: Atlantic spotted dolphin--Bahamas., Aggressive behavior in animals., Social behavior in animals., Aquatic mammals--Behavior., Predation (Biology), Predatory marine animals--Ecology.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Effects of Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus Septentrionalis) removal on native Florida hyla populations.
Creator: Cunningham, Miranda, Moore, Jon, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Invasive species are one of the major threats to biodiversity and understanding the effects any one invasive species has on members of its new ecosystem can help land managers decide how to best use their limited resources. This study attempted to show the effect Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus Septentrionalis) were having on native Florida hylids. For a year, Cuban Treefrogs were removed from three cypress domes and monitored in three other cypress domes, a change in the native population in the...
Show moreInvasive species are one of the major threats to biodiversity and understanding the effects any one invasive species has on members of its new ecosystem can help land managers decide how to best use their limited resources. This study attempted to show the effect Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus Septentrionalis) were having on native Florida hylids. For a year, Cuban Treefrogs were removed from three cypress domes and monitored in three other cypress domes, a change in the native population in the experimental domes was the eventual desired effect. Due to weather issues and low native hylid numbers no effect was shown, however due to environmental constraints an effect could not be ruled out either.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004359, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004359
Subject Headings: Conservation biology, Cuban Treefrog -- Florida, Hylidae, Predation (Biology), Wildlife management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Fire ants on sea turtle nesting beaches in South Florida, USA, and ST. Croix, USVI.
Creator: Romais, Danielle K., Wetterer, James K., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a South American native introduced in Alabama in the early 20th century. This predatory species has rapidly spread throughout the southeastern US and parts of the West Indies, inflicting great ecological and economic damage. For example, Solenopsis invicta is known to attack the eggs and hatchlings of ground nesting birds and reptiles. The ants swarm into the nests attacking hatchlings and diminishing their chance for survival. My thesis...
Show moreThe red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a South American native introduced in Alabama in the early 20th century. This predatory species has rapidly spread throughout the southeastern US and parts of the West Indies, inflicting great ecological and economic damage. For example, Solenopsis invicta is known to attack the eggs and hatchlings of ground nesting birds and reptiles. The ants swarm into the nests attacking hatchlings and diminishing their chance for survival. My thesis research aimed to survey the distribution of ants on sea turtle nesting beaches in South Florida and St. Croix, USVI, and to evaluate the possible threat of Solenopsis invicta and other predatory ants to sea turtle hatchlings.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004052
Subject Headings: Biological invasions, Fire ants -- Venom -- Physiological effect, Predation (Biology), Sea turtles -- Florida -- Mortality, Sea turtles -- St. Croix -- Mortality, Wildlife conservation -- Florida, Wildlife conservation -- St. Croix
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Foraging ecology of wading birds in a sub-tropical intertidal zone.
Creator: Calle, Leonardo, Gawlik, Dale E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The first of five chapters describe the study area and study species, including a short description about the impetus for this research. The second chapter describes a unique hydrologic model for application in tidal ecosystems. The second chapter represents new information on the effects of various abiotic and biotic factors on foraging wading birds in this highly dynamic environment. The third chapter identifies important factors affecting the abundance of foraging wading birds in...
Show moreThe first of five chapters describe the study area and study species, including a short description about the impetus for this research. The second chapter describes a unique hydrologic model for application in tidal ecosystems. The second chapter represents new information on the effects of various abiotic and biotic factors on foraging wading birds in this highly dynamic environment. The third chapter identifies important factors affecting the abundance of foraging wading birds in intertidal environments. The fourth chapter presents a study of the foraging habitat preferences of two wading bird species in intertidal environments. The fifth chapter describes a conceptual model of wading bird foraging ecology and a predictive model of foraging habitat in intertidal zones. The conceptual model captures the major drivers and linkages between the abiotic and biotic variables thought to affect wading bird foraging abundance in intertidal habitats. The conceptual model also identifies major knowledge gaps in our understanding of foraging ecology of wading birds in coastal intertidal areas. The predictive model of foraging habitat is meant to be used by resource managers, but its framework may be useful for ecological studies in general. The final and sixth chapter provides a summary of all the major findings. Each chapter has been written so as to be independent of the other chapters. As such, a full background, along with a discussion of the relevance of the chapter's findings is provided for each chapter.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004087
Subject Headings: Habitat selection, Population biology, Predation (Biology), Water birds -- Geographical distribution, Water birds -- Habitat
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Functional aspects of behavior and morphology in the decorator crab Microphrys Bicornutus (Latreille, 1825) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Mithracidae).
Creator: Salazar, Monique Alexandra, Brooks, W. Randy, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Masking or decorator crabs, conceal themselves partially through camouflage, by selecting or indiscriminately attaching materials from their environment to their exoskeleton. Functional aspects of decorating behavior and morphology in this group have not been documented. Using Microphrys bicornutus as a model species, this dissertation demonstrates clearly that decorating is an advantageous phenotype that has evolved to serve several functions. Decorating is a complex behavior that begins...
Show moreMasking or decorator crabs, conceal themselves partially through camouflage, by selecting or indiscriminately attaching materials from their environment to their exoskeleton. Functional aspects of decorating behavior and morphology in this group have not been documented. Using Microphrys bicornutus as a model species, this dissertation demonstrates clearly that decorating is an advantageous phenotype that has evolved to serve several functions. Decorating is a complex behavior that begins when a crab approaches an algal substrate and results in the attachment of algae to hooked setae on the exoskeleton. Once decorated, crabs remain motionless on the substrate until disturbed or until another behavior is initiated. This was confirmed for M. bicornutus, as crabs spent a significant amount of time feeding, remaining motionless, picking, and walking when compared to decorating. Crabs displayed agonistic behaviors during encounters with conspecifics conspecifics. These included both active aggressive behavior and display behavior. Crabs showed a decrease in motility during these encounters, helping maintain dispersed distributions, thereby decreasing intrsapecific encounters in the field. Trials were done to determine the effect of conspecifics, predators and feeding preferences on algal utilization. M. bicornutus showed a significant decrease in the amount of algae used for decoration in the highest density trials (i.e., 4 and 8 crabs). Agonistic displays and aggressive behavior between these crabs likely affected the time available for decorating. Decorated crabs isolated from an algal substrate were more likely to survive in the presence of either of two sympatric fish predators. Thus, being protected by the algal decoration on their exoskeletons. Trials also showed a parallel between algal consumption and algal materials used for decoration. In addition to its protective function, algae used by M. bicornutus for decoration simultaneously serve as short term food supplies for the crabs. Eleven morphologically complex structures were identified and mapped on the exoskeleton. Hooked setae were the primary structures used to attach algae to the crab’s body. Ten additional setal structures were present, including two novel types of setae. On the basis of location and morphological variation exhibited among these latter structures, a primary sensory function may be inferred.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004056
Subject Headings: Animal behavior, Camouflage (Biology), Crabs -- Behavior, Marine ecology, Predation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Habitat selection among fishes and shrimp in the pelagic Sargassum community: the role of habitat architecture.
Creator: Bennice, Chelsea, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Pelagic Sargassum was used to determine the effects of habitat architecture for one species of shrimp (Leander tenuicornis) and two species of fish (Stephanolepis hispidus and Histrio histrio). Inter-thallus spacing (low, medium, and high) and depth (shallow versus deep) were manipulated independently to test whether the spatial components of habitat architecture. Two differing habitats (Sargassum versus seagrass species) were tested for the structural component of habitat architecture. There...
Show morePelagic Sargassum was used to determine the effects of habitat architecture for one species of shrimp (Leander tenuicornis) and two species of fish (Stephanolepis hispidus and Histrio histrio). Inter-thallus spacing (low, medium, and high) and depth (shallow versus deep) were manipulated independently to test whether the spatial components of habitat architecture. Two differing habitats (Sargassum versus seagrass species) were tested for the structural component of habitat architecture. There were no significant results for inter-thallus spacing experiments for L. tenuicornis and S. hispidus. H histrio selected habitats with medium inter-thallus spacing in two treatments. Large individual H. histrio contributed mostly to the significant effects. All three species selected habitats with a greater depth aspect. Finally, L. tenuicornis and H. histrio selected habitats with greater structural complexity (i.e., Sargassum). These results demonstrate clearly that habitat architecture of Sargassum influences habitat selection by these shrimp and fishes.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358284
Subject Headings: Habitat (Ecology), Sargassum, Ecology, Animal behavior, Predation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Investigating maternal health and hatchling mortality in leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea v.).
Creator: Perrault, Justin R., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The reproductive success of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) is typically the lowest of the seven sea turtle species. Why this vital rate is decreased has remained unanswered for nearly a century. Recently, detailed postmortem examination of leatherback hatchlings identified muscular pathologies that suggested possible selenium deficiency. High bodily burdens of mercury compounds are associated with selenium depletion. Selenium is a necessary detoxifying nutrient that itself can be...
Show moreThe reproductive success of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) is typically the lowest of the seven sea turtle species. Why this vital rate is decreased has remained unanswered for nearly a century. Recently, detailed postmortem examination of leatherback hatchlings identified muscular pathologies that suggested possible selenium deficiency. High bodily burdens of mercury compounds are associated with selenium depletion. Selenium is a necessary detoxifying nutrient that itself can be toxic at elevated concentrations. Mercury compounds are toxicants with no known biological function. High bodily concentrations of mercury can be detrimental to marine organismal health, reproduction and survival, both directly and indirectly through inducing selenium depletion. The goals of this dissertation are to evaluate several related hypotheses to explain low leatherback nest success. ... Because leatherbacks take in high volumes of prey, high tissue concentrations of mercury and selenium can result. This study provides the first evidence that chemical contaminants may explain low reproductive success in leatherback sea turtles.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362575
Subject Headings: Selenium, Physiological effect, Predation (Biology), Leatherback turtle, Mortality, Sea turtles, Mortality, Wildlife conservation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Limitations on macroinvertebrate populations in South Florida weltands.
Creator: Knorp, Natalie E., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: It can be difficult to disentangle the factors that determine population success in freshwater systems, particularly for organisms with disturbance-resistant life stages like aquatic invertebrates. Nevertheless, the effects of environmental variation and habitat structure on animal population success in wetlands are important for understanding both trophic interactions and biodiversity. I performed two experiments to determine the factors limiting crayfish (Procambarus fallax) and dragonfly ...
Show moreIt can be difficult to disentangle the factors that determine population success in freshwater systems, particularly for organisms with disturbance-resistant life stages like aquatic invertebrates. Nevertheless, the effects of environmental variation and habitat structure on animal population success in wetlands are important for understanding both trophic interactions and biodiversity. I performed two experiments to determine the factors limiting crayfish (Procambarus fallax) and dragonfly (Family: Libellulidae) populations in wetland environments. A simulation of a dry-disturbance and subsequent sunfish (Family: Centrarchidae) re-colonization revealed that crayfish populations are sensitive to sunfish, while dragonfly naiads seemed to be limited by other drying-related factors. A second manipulation revealed that small-bodied fishes and habitat structure (submerged vegetation) shaped dragonfly communities primarily through postcolonization processes.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362485
Subject Headings: Wetland ecology, Wildlife conservation, Freshwater invertebrates, Ecology, Predation (Biology), Marine ecosystem management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Long-term analyses (1986-2018) of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting data from Keewaydin Island, Florida.
Creator: Hoover, Shelby R., Salmon, Michael, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Few studies on marine turtles focus on the variation in reproductive performance of individual females. I use a long-term nesting data set (1986 – 2018) of individual loggerheads including information on 1,854 individuals, of which 853 were seen nesting multiple times. During this time, emergence success has declined while the number of females nesting, and the number of nests deposited has increased. Declining emergence success can be linked to an increase in predation in most recent years;...
Show moreFew studies on marine turtles focus on the variation in reproductive performance of individual females. I use a long-term nesting data set (1986 – 2018) of individual loggerheads including information on 1,854 individuals, of which 853 were seen nesting multiple times. During this time, emergence success has declined while the number of females nesting, and the number of nests deposited has increased. Declining emergence success can be linked to an increase in predation in most recent years; however, this does not fully explain the decline in emergence success over all years. Females were found to vary in productivity. Successful females were larger and deposited more eggs in nests. This study shows that an increasing in nesting numbers does not mean that productivity is increasing proportionally and that recovery efforts are uniformly successful. This study is also a powerful tool for understanding the reproductive strategies of individual female loggerheads.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013381
Subject Headings: Loggerhead turtle--Florida, Reproduction, Sea turtles--Nests, Predation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Mechanisms that generate resource pulses and drive wading bird nesting in a fluctuating wetland.
Creator: Botson, Bryan A., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Variation in the seasonal water level fluctuations of tropical and subtropical wetlands controls the production and concentration of aquatic fauna that support breeding wading birds. However, little is known about how particular components of the annual hydrologic cycle affect processes that control food availability and reproduction. This thesis identifies specific mechanisms responsible for transforming wet season prey standing stock into dry season prey concentrations, links landscape...
Show moreVariation in the seasonal water level fluctuations of tropical and subtropical wetlands controls the production and concentration of aquatic fauna that support breeding wading birds. However, little is known about how particular components of the annual hydrologic cycle affect processes that control food availability and reproduction. This thesis identifies specific mechanisms responsible for transforming wet season prey standing stock into dry season prey concentrations, links landscape hydrological patterns to wading bird nesting, and presents a predictive model of Wood Stork nesting. I examined the supoort for several a priori hypotheses of factors affecting wading bird prey concentrations and wading bird nest effort. Factors affecting the concentration and vulnerability of prey were important for transferring secondary production to higher trophic levels. Receding water levels, microtopographic variation, and high standing stocks of prey were critical for generating pulses of food availabiltiy to meet the high energy requirements of breeding predatory birds.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358281
Subject Headings: Wetland ecology, Restoration ecology, Wood stork, Habitat, Predation (Biology), Water birds, Habitat
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Nematocyst replacement in the sea anemone Aiptasia Pallida following predation by Lysmata Wurdemanni: an inducible defense?.
Creator: Jennings, Lucas, Laramore, Susan E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The sea anemone Aiptasia pallida is a biological model for anthozoan research. Like all cnidarians, A. pallida possesses nematocysts for food capture and defense. Studies have shown that anthozoans, such as corals, can rapidly increase nematocyst concentration when faced with competition or predation, suggesting that nematocyst production may be an induced trait. The potential effects of two types of tissue damage, predator induced (Lysmata wurdemanni) and artificial (forceps), on nematocyst...
Show moreThe sea anemone Aiptasia pallida is a biological model for anthozoan research. Like all cnidarians, A. pallida possesses nematocysts for food capture and defense. Studies have shown that anthozoans, such as corals, can rapidly increase nematocyst concentration when faced with competition or predation, suggesting that nematocyst production may be an induced trait. The potential effects of two types of tissue damage, predator induced (Lysmata wurdemanni) and artificial (forceps), on nematocyst concentration was assessed. Nematocysts were identified by type and size to examine the potential plasticity associated with nematocyst production. While no significant differences were found in defensive nematocyst concentration between shrimp predation treatments versus controls, there was a significant difference in small-sized nematocyst in anemones damaged with forceps. The proportions of the different types of nematocysts between treatment types were also found to be different suggesting that nematocyst production in A. pallida is a plastic trait.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004204, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004204
Subject Headings: Coral reef ecology, Marine ecology, Nematocysts, Predation (Biology), Sea anemones
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Nest-to-surf mortality of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle hatchlings on Florida’s east coast in 2016.
Creator: Erb, Victoria, Wyneken, Jeanette, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Worldwide, sea turtles are especially vulnerable immediately after emerging from nests. Many monitoring programs measure hatchling production from nest inventories. These inventories rarely account for mortality occurring post-emergence, leaving an incomplete estimate of hatchling production. This study addresses the nest-to-surf data gap for Florida’s east coast nesting assemblages of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Five locations were surveyed during the 2016 nesting season by...
Show moreWorldwide, sea turtles are especially vulnerable immediately after emerging from nests. Many monitoring programs measure hatchling production from nest inventories. These inventories rarely account for mortality occurring post-emergence, leaving an incomplete estimate of hatchling production. This study addresses the nest-to-surf data gap for Florida’s east coast nesting assemblages of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Five locations were surveyed during the 2016 nesting season by using infrared time-lapse imagery, night vision optics, and track maps. Over all beaches, 7.6% of the observed hatchlings did not survive to reach the water. Mortality sources varied by location. Observed predators included: foxes, bobcats, yellow-crowned night herons, ghost crabs, and gulls. Hatchling disorientation and misorientation occurred more frequently in urban areas than natural areas. Factors including number of hatchlings emerging, nest-to-surf distance, and urbanization may help managers estimate nest-to-surf mortality. This study will improve life history models that serve as foundations of conservation management.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004934, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004934
Subject Headings: Sea turtles--Mortality--Florida., Loggerhead turtle--Mortality., Predation (Biology), Sea turtles--Orientation., Animal navigation., Fire ants--Venom--Physiological effect.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Nutrition and habitat driven foraging of wild dolphins in the Bahamas: a recipe for prey.
Creator: Malinowski, Christopher R., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Two sympatric dolphin species, Stenella frontalis and Tursiops truncatus, resident to Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas were found to mostly forage independent of one another, but occasionally foraged in mixed groups. Analysis of over 20 years of data revealed the degree of overlap to be minimal with spatially distinct regions identified for both species, environmental segregation based on depth, bottom type, temperature, and time of day. Results based on observational data indicated significant...
Show moreTwo sympatric dolphin species, Stenella frontalis and Tursiops truncatus, resident to Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas were found to mostly forage independent of one another, but occasionally foraged in mixed groups. Analysis of over 20 years of data revealed the degree of overlap to be minimal with spatially distinct regions identified for both species, environmental segregation based on depth, bottom type, temperature, and time of day. Results based on observational data indicated significant differences in group size and selected prey. For S. frontalis, lactating females had the most distinct diet, which differed from that of non-reproductively active (NRA) females. Pregnant females had ambiguous prey use results, but diet differences were revealed through nutritional analysis. Lactating females had a higher intake of all nutrients (% moisture, % lipid, % protein, and calories) than pregnant females but lower than NRA females. Mother and calf pairs selected prey for caloric and moisture values. The influence of calves on foraging groups was reflected through discrete differences in all nutrients. Males and females appeared to select the same major prey, but female prey use was much more diverse.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3318668
Subject Headings: Dolphins, Habitat, Predatory marine animals, Ecology, Marine ecosystem management, Predation (Biology), Aquatic mammals, Behavior
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Origins, movements, and foraging behavior of Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Palm Beach County waters, Florida, USA.
Creator: Wood, Lawrence D., Milton, Sarah L., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: This dissertation examined the natal origins, home-range, and in-situ foraging behavior of an aggregation of sub-adult hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) found off the coast of Palm Beach County, Florida. Surveys were conducted on approximately 30 linear km of reef between 15 and 30 m in depth. Tissue samples were retrieved from 112 turtles for mtDNA haplotype determination. GPS-linked satellite transmitters were deployed on six resident sub-adults, resulting in both minimum convex...
Show moreThis dissertation examined the natal origins, home-range, and in-situ foraging behavior of an aggregation of sub-adult hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) found off the coast of Palm Beach County, Florida. Surveys were conducted on approximately 30 linear km of reef between 15 and 30 m in depth. Tissue samples were retrieved from 112 turtles for mtDNA haplotype determination. GPS-linked satellite transmitters were deployed on six resident sub-adults, resulting in both minimum convex polygon (MCP) and 95%, 50%, and 25% kernel density estimates (KDE) of home-range size. A foraging ethogram was developed, and sequential analysis performed on thirty videos (141 total minutes) of in-situ foraging behavior. Seventeen total haplotypes were identified in this aggregation, the majority (75%) of which represented rookeries on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Other sources, from most to least important, include Barbados, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Antigua, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004339
Subject Headings: Animal behavior, Animal orientation, Hawksbill turtle -- Ecology, Predation (Biology), Sea turtles -- Habitat, Wildlife conservation, Wildlife management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Physiological Effects of Disorientation in Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and Green (Chelonia mydas) Sea Turtle Hatchlings.
Creator: Pankaew, Karen, Milton, Sarah L., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Following nest emergence, sea turtle hatchling dispersal can be disrupted by artificial light or skyglow from urban areas. Mis- or disorientation increases exposure to predation, thermal stress, and dehydration, could consume valuable energy, and thus influence the likelihood of survival. This study utilized laboratory simulations of extended crawl distances and field observations to investigate the energy cost of disorientation crawling on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia...
Show moreFollowing nest emergence, sea turtle hatchling dispersal can be disrupted by artificial light or skyglow from urban areas. Mis- or disorientation increases exposure to predation, thermal stress, and dehydration, could consume valuable energy, and thus influence the likelihood of survival. This study utilized laboratory simulations of extended crawl distances and field observations to investigate the energy cost of disorientation crawling on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtle hatchlings and the impact on the subsequent swim frenzy. Extended crawls increased oxygen consumption, decreased plasma glucose, and reduced green hatchling swim performance following a 200m crawl. Surprisingly, plasma lactate concentrations did not increase with crawl distance, likely due to frequent rest periods that would, however, increase time on the beach and thus exposure to predators. This research may provide managers with physiological data to determine best practices for sea turtle conservation and adds to the biological knowledge of these animals.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004619
Subject Headings: Predation (Biology), Sea turtles--Life cycles., Sea turtles--Nests--Protection., Wildlife conservation., Exterior lighting--Environmental aspects.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Predatory Impacts of Crayfish on Apple Snails (Pomacea paludosa and P. maculata).
Creator: Davidson, Andrew, Dorn, Nathan, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Theory predicts that when prey can reach a size refuge from predation, prey vulnerability to predation is a function of hatchling size, growth rate, and the handling limitations of its predator, which collectively influence the amount of time prey spend vulnerable. I examined the mechanistic role of prey size for the predator-prey interaction between predatory crayfish (Procambarus fallax) and apple snail prey (Pomacea paludosa and P. maculata) and found that crayfish feeding rates decreased...
Show moreTheory predicts that when prey can reach a size refuge from predation, prey vulnerability to predation is a function of hatchling size, growth rate, and the handling limitations of its predator, which collectively influence the amount of time prey spend vulnerable. I examined the mechanistic role of prey size for the predator-prey interaction between predatory crayfish (Procambarus fallax) and apple snail prey (Pomacea paludosa and P. maculata) and found that crayfish feeding rates decreased with snail size, such that smaller hatchling P. maculata were more than twenty times more vulnerable than hatchling P. paludosa. Experimental manipulations of productivity increased apple snail growth rates, reducing the effects of predatory crayfish on P. maculata survivorship, but not P. paludosa survivorship. My results indicate that when prey can reach a size refuge from predation, increased system productivity decreases predator limitation of that prey.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004760, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004760
Subject Headings: Predation (Biology), Gastropoda--Physiology., Florida applesnail--Habitat., Florida applesnail--Environmental aspects.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Quantifying the energetic cost of disorientation in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtle hatchlings.
Creator: Williams, Sean., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The photopollution of beaches caused by artificial light sources can interfere with sea turtle hatchlings' ability to orient properly towards the sea. Exhaustion due to extended disorientation crawling may then increase hatchling mortality. This study evaluated the energetic consequences of long-distance crawls in green and loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings. Turtles crawled for 200 m or 500 m on a treadmill, followed by a 30 minute evaluation of swim performance. Metabolic activity was...
Show moreThe photopollution of beaches caused by artificial light sources can interfere with sea turtle hatchlings' ability to orient properly towards the sea. Exhaustion due to extended disorientation crawling may then increase hatchling mortality. This study evaluated the energetic consequences of long-distance crawls in green and loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings. Turtles crawled for 200 m or 500 m on a treadmill, followed by a 30 minute evaluation of swim performance. Metabolic activity was quantified via measures of blood glucose, blood lactate, and oxygen consumption. No significant changes in metabolism resulted from long-distance crawling activity in loggerheads ; however, loggerheads rested for extended periods of time during the crawl trials, often unresponsive to stimuli. This behavior implies that loggerhead hatchlings would be vulnerable to predation or temperature stress due to exhaustion from extended periods of crawling. Further data is required to draw any significant conclusions about long-term disorientatin crawling in green hatchlings.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3356891
Subject Headings: Sea turtles, Nests, Protection, Sea turtles, Life cycles, Animal behavior, Predation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Regional differences in migratory activity by hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): effect of reciprocal nest translocations.
Creator: Guertin, Jeffrey, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: There are four distinct subpopulations of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in Florida as determined behaviorally by geographic fidelity, and genetically by mitochondrial haplotypes. The South Florida subpopulation consists of females nesting on the southeastern and southwestern coasts of Florida and their offspring. Previous research shows that west coast hatchlings exhibit higher levels of nocturnal swimming during the postfrenzy period than east coast hatchlings. This study...
Show moreThere are four distinct subpopulations of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in Florida as determined behaviorally by geographic fidelity, and genetically by mitochondrial haplotypes. The South Florida subpopulation consists of females nesting on the southeastern and southwestern coasts of Florida and their offspring. Previous research shows that west coast hatchlings exhibit higher levels of nocturnal swimming during the postfrenzy period than east coast hatchlings. This study attempted to determine how these differences in migratory behavior develop. A reciprocal translocation experiment was conducted to distinguish between environmental and genetic factors. No consistent differences in hatchling swimming behavior were seen based on geography. Movement of nests resulted in lower levels of nocturnal swimming behavior in hatchlings compared to hatchlings that emerged from natural nests, suggesting that the relocation of nests may not provide a natural incubation environment for developing hatchlings.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1927867
Subject Headings: Predation (Biology), Sea turtles, Migration, Animal migration, Animal orientation
Format: Document (PDF)

Animal behavior (7)	+ -
Wildlife conservation (5)	+ -
Ecology (4)	+ -
Sea turtles (4)	+ -
Animal orientation (3)	+ -

Marine ecology (3)	+ -
Wetland ecology (3)	+ -
Wildlife management (3)	+ -
Behavior (2)	+ -
Biological invasions (2)	+ -
Coral reef ecology (2)	+ -
Habitat (2)	+ -
Habitat (Ecology) (2)	+ -
Marine ecosystem management (2)	+ -
Nests (2)	+ -
Sea anemones (2)	+ -
Sea turtles -- Habitat (2)	+ -
Adaptation (Biology) (1)	+ -
Adaptation (Physiology) (1)	+ -
Aggressive behavior in animals. (1)	+ -
Animal migration (1)	+ -
Animal migration -- Antigua -- Jumbo Bay (1)	+ -
Animal navigation. (1)	+ -
Animal orientation -- Antigua -- Jumbo Bay (1)	+ -
Aquatic ecology. (1)	+ -
Aquatic mammals (1)	+ -
Aquatic mammals--Behavior. (1)	+ -
Atlantic spotted dolphin--Bahamas. (1)	+ -
Birds (1)	+ -

Florida (3)	+ -
Atlantic Coast (U.S.) (1)	+ -
Bahamas (1)	+ -
Canaveral National Seashore (Fla.) (1)	+ -
Little Bahama Bank (1)	+ -

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (30)	+ -
Florida Atlantic University (17)	+ -
Salmon, Michael (4)	+ -
Gawlik, Dale E. (3)	+ -
Brooks, W. Randy (2)	+ -

Hughes, Colin (2)	+ -
Milton, Sarah L. (2)	+ -
Wetterer, James K. (2)	+ -
Balkaran, Kavita (1)	+ -
Barraco, Liz Anne (1)	+ -
Bennice, Chelsea (1)	+ -
Botson, Bryan A. (1)	+ -
Calle, Leonardo (1)	+ -
Chastant, Jennifer E. (1)	+ -
Cox, Derek (1)	+ -
Cunningham, Miranda (1)	+ -
Cutter, Jennifer (1)	+ -
Davidson, Andrew (1)	+ -
Devlin, Donna (1)	+ -
Dorn, Nathan (1)	+ -
Erb, Victoria (1)	+ -
Guertin, Jeffrey (1)	+ -
Herzing, Denise L. (1)	+ -
Hoover, Shelby R. (1)	+ -
Jennings, Lucas (1)	+ -
Kedzuf, Stephanie C. (1)	+ -
Klassen, Jessica A. (1)	+ -
Knorp, Natalie E. (1)	+ -
Laramore, Susan E. (1)	+ -

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