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Nest Environment and Hatchling Fitness Correlates in the Sea Turtles Caretta Caretta and Natator Depressus Elizabeth Louise Sim Bsc (Hons)

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Nest Environment and Hatchling Fitness Correlates in the Sea Turtles Caretta Caretta and Natator Depressus Elizabeth Louise Sim Bsc (Hons) Nest environment and hatchling fitness correlates in the sea turtles Caretta caretta and Natator depressus Elizabeth Louise Sim BSc (Hons) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2014 School of Biological Sciences 1 ABSTRACT Marine turtles have a complex lifecycle and face threats in both marine and terrestrial environments. Nesting females lay a large number of eggs, very few of which produce hatchlings that survive to reach breeding age. As hatchlings cross the beach, they are exposed to predation, disorientation, dehydration and debris on the beach. When hatchlings enter the water they are exposed to aquatic predators. Hatchlings do not actively avoid predators, or defend themselves, so simply being able to move quickly through this environment would increase their chance of survival. A number of variables can affect hatchling locomotor performance, and this thesis examines three of these: incubation temperature, scute pattern and rookery location in two species of sea turtle, loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and flatback turtles (Natator depressus). The first part of this thesis focuses on scute pattern. Scutes cover the carapace of turtles and tortoises, and each species has a modal pattern. Deviations from this modal pattern are more common in hatchlings than in adult turtles, suggesting that hatchlings with non-modal scute patterns have higher mortality rates, but this hypothesis has not been tested previously. Hatchlings with modal scute patterns were larger and heavier than hatchlings with non-modal scute patterns in both species examined, however this size difference did not translate into a difference in terrestrial locomotor performance. However, N. depressus hatchlings with the modal scute pattern produced more thrust than hatchlings with non-modal scute patterns in the first 40 minutes of swimming, which may give them an advantage over hatchlings with non-modal scute patterns. The second part of this thesis focuses on incubation temperature. Marine turtle eggs successfully incubate within a narrow range of temperatures. Even within the viable developmental temperature range, it has been proposed that hatchlings from eggs incubated close to the thermal tolerance limits may have reduced fitness compared to hatchlings from eggs incubated at intermediate temperatures. In this study, C. caretta hatchlings from hot nests were less likely to emerge from the nest, were smaller, and also performed poorly during crawling and swimming trials compared with hatchlings incubated in moderate temperature nests. The third part of this thesis focuses on differences in hatchling morphology and locomotor performance between two N. depressus rookeries representing two separate ‘evolutionarily significant units’ (ESUs). Hatchlings at the two sites differed in size, but this size difference did not translate into a difference in either crawling speed or self-righting ability. i This thesis contributes to our understanding of factors that influence marine turtle hatchling fitness, both environmental and morphological. This information can be used in the monitoring of endangered marine turtle populations. ii DECLARATION BY AUTHOR This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. iii Publications during candidature Sim, E. L., Booth, D. T and Limpus, C. J. (2014). Non-modal scute patterns, morphology, and locomotor performance of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and flatback (Natator depressus) turtle hatchlings. Copeia. 2014(1): 63-69. Sim, E. L., Booth, D. T, Limpus, C. J. and Guinea, M. L. (2014). A comparison of hatchling locomotor performance and scute pattern variation between two rookeries of the flatback turtle (Natator depressus). Copeia. 2014(2): 339-344. Sim, E. L., Booth, D. T and Limpus, C. J. (2014). Incubation temperature, morphology and performance in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtle hatchlings from Mon Repos, Queensland, Australia. Biology Open in press. Sim, E. L., Booth, D. T and Limpus, C. J. (2014). The effect of incubation temperature on flatback (Natator depressus) turtle hatchlings from Mon Repos, Queensland, Australia. In submission. Publications included in this thesis Sim, E. L., Booth, D. T and Limpus, C. J. (2014). Non-modal scute patterns, morphology, and locomotor performance of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and flatback (Natator depressus) turtle hatchlings. Copeia. 2014(1): 63-69. Incorporated as Chapter 2. Contributor Statement of Contribution Author Elizabeth Sim (Candidate) Designed experiments (70%) Collected data (100%) Wrote the paper (70%) Author David Booth Designed experiments (30%) Wrote and edited the paper (30%) Author Colin Limpus Fieldwork supervision and assistance Sim, E. L., Booth, D. T, Limpus, C. J. and Guinea, M. L. (2014). A comparison of hatchling locomotor performance and scute pattern variation between two rookeries of the flatback turtle (Natator depressus). Copeia 2014(2): 339-344. Incorporated as Chapter 5. Contributor Statement of Contribution Author Elizabeth Sim (Candidate) Designed experiments (90%) Collected data (100%) iv Wrote the paper (70%) Author David Booth Designed experiments (10%) Wrote and edited the paper (30%) Author Colin Limpus Fieldwork supervision and assistance Author Michael Guinea Fieldwork supervision and assistance Sim, E. L., Booth, D. T and Limpus, C. J. (2014). Incubation temperature, morphology and performance in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtle hatchlings from Mon Repos, Queensland, Australia. Biology Open in press. Incorporated as Chapter 3. Contributor Statement of Contribution Author Elizabeth Sim (Candidate) Designed experiments (70%) Collected data (100%) Wrote the paper (70%) Author David Booth Designed experiments (30%) Wrote and edited the paper (30%) Author Colin Limpus Fieldwork supervision and assistance Sim, E. L., Booth, D. T and Limpus, C. J. (2014). The effect of incubation temperature on flatback (Natator depressus) turtle hatchlings from Mon Repos, Queensland, Australia. In submission. Incorporated as Chapter 4. Contributor Statement of Contribution Author Elizabeth Sim (Candidate) Designed experiments (70%) Collected data (100%) Wrote the paper (70%) Author David Booth Designed experiments (30%) Wrote and edited the paper (30%) Author Colin Limpus Fieldwork supervision and assistance v Contributions by others to the thesis Advice for experimental design and field set-up was provided by Dr David Booth and Dr Colin Limpus (Chapters 2-5) and Dr Michael Guinea (Chapter 5). Advice on data interpretation and Editorial assistance was provided by Dr David Booth (Chapters 1-6). Fieldwork assistance was provided by Melissa Kelly (Chapters 2-5), volunteers and staff at Mon Repos Conservation Park (Chapters 2-5) and volunteers and staff on Bare Sand Island (Chapter 5). Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the support of a number of people. Firstly, my academic supervisors David Booth, Col Limpus and Craig Franklin. David, thank you for all of your support, your extremely fast corrections and for putting the shed together every year! Col, thank you for all of the field guidance and for sharing your wealth of turtle knowledge. Craig, thank you for your feedback and help with manuscripts. The fieldwork component of this project would not have been possible without the help of many people. A big thank you to Melissa Kelly, who helped me out during the busiest season, with many late nights and early mornings. Thank you to Helen and Mike for keeping me sane in the field, and to all other volunteers at Mon Repos between 2010 and 2012, and Bare Sand Island in 2011. Thanks also to my friends for all of your help, support and welcome distractions. In particular Taryn, Luis and Renee. I couldn’t have done it without you guys. Thanks to all my turtle friends, near and far. It’s great to be a part of such a big community that shares my love of turtles. Thanks to my family for supporting me from afar and for the visits (both here and in Melbourne). And finally, thank you to the turtles
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