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orientation and survival of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings (Caretta caretta L.) in the nearshore environment

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Date Issued:
1996
Summary:
Hatchling sea turtles emerge at night from underground nests, crawl to the ocean, and swim out to sea. In this study, I determined how offshore orientation and shallow-water predation rates varied under natural (sand bottom and patch reef) and modified (submerged breakwater and open-beach hatchery) ecological circumstances. Hatchling offshore orientation in the sea was normal under all conditions; there were no significant differences in either scatter or direction among groups. However, predators (tarpon, snapper, barracuda, jacks, and grouper) took more hatchlings as they swam over submerged reefs, and after they entered the water in front of hatcheries. Predators were concentrated at both of these sites probably because prey (small fishes and invertebrates at patch reefs and turtles entering the water where nests were concentrated in hatcheries) occur in greater abundance.
Title: The orientation and survival of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings (Caretta caretta L.) in the nearshore environment.
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Name(s): Glenn, Lawrence
Florida Atlantic University, Degree Grantor
Salmon, Michael, Thesis Advisor
Wyneken, Jeanette, Thesis Advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Issued: 1996
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 73 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Hatchling sea turtles emerge at night from underground nests, crawl to the ocean, and swim out to sea. In this study, I determined how offshore orientation and shallow-water predation rates varied under natural (sand bottom and patch reef) and modified (submerged breakwater and open-beach hatchery) ecological circumstances. Hatchling offshore orientation in the sea was normal under all conditions; there were no significant differences in either scatter or direction among groups. However, predators (tarpon, snapper, barracuda, jacks, and grouper) took more hatchlings as they swam over submerged reefs, and after they entered the water in front of hatcheries. Predators were concentrated at both of these sites probably because prey (small fishes and invertebrates at patch reefs and turtles entering the water where nests were concentrated in hatcheries) occur in greater abundance.
Identifier: 15282 (digitool), FADT15282 (IID), fau:12053 (fedora)
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1996.
Subject(s): Loggerhead turtle
Sea turtles--Orientation
Animal navigation
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15282
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.
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.