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Growth rates and body condition of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Dry Tortugas National Park and Marine Protected Area

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Date Issued:
2015
Summary:
Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) consists of 261.8 km2 in the Gulf of Mexico and provides protection to marine species facing a multitude of threats. Among the many species that utilize DRTO is the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). I examined seven years of capture-recapture data to determine how the body condition (using Fulton’s equation, K = M/L3) and growth rate for juvenile green turtles vary within, and among size classes in DRTO, and how those rates compare to similar populations in other locations. Body conditions ranged from 0.77 to 1.71 (mean 1.3 SD ± 0.16). Growth rates ranged from 2.5 to 9.9cm/yr (mean 5.5 cm/yr SD ± 1.25), which is a high growth rate for green turtles. Establishing growth rates and body condition for a specific population can provide insight into life history and health of that population, as well as important data for comparison to populations in other areas.
Title: Growth rates and body condition of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Dry Tortugas National Park and Marine Protected Area.
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Name(s): Reintsma, Nicole, author
Baldwin, John D., Thesis advisor
Hart, Kristen, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2015
Date Issued: 2015
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 36 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) consists of 261.8 km2 in the Gulf of Mexico and provides protection to marine species facing a multitude of threats. Among the many species that utilize DRTO is the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). I examined seven years of capture-recapture data to determine how the body condition (using Fulton’s equation, K = M/L3) and growth rate for juvenile green turtles vary within, and among size classes in DRTO, and how those rates compare to similar populations in other locations. Body conditions ranged from 0.77 to 1.71 (mean 1.3 SD ± 0.16). Growth rates ranged from 2.5 to 9.9cm/yr (mean 5.5 cm/yr SD ± 1.25), which is a high growth rate for green turtles. Establishing growth rates and body condition for a specific population can provide insight into life history and health of that population, as well as important data for comparison to populations in other areas.
Identifier: FA00004462 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Dry Tortugas National Park (Fla.)
Green turtle -- Florida
Sea turtles -- Florida -- Dry Tortugas National Park
Wildlife conservation -- Research
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Links: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004462
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004462
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.