The Behaviour of Immature and Female Hawksbill Turtles
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The Behaviour of Immature and Female Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) at Sea Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel Vorgelegt von Sandra Storch Kiel 2003 The water was warm. There was plenty to eat. The turtles had everything turtles might need. And they were all happy. Quite happy indeed. ... And the turtles, of course... all the turtles are free As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be. (from: Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss) Contents 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1 2 STUDY AREAS........................................................................................ 5 2.1 BUCK ISLAND ...................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 MONA ISLAND ..................................................................................................................................... 8 3 METHODS..............................................................................................10 3.1 SHORT-TERM DATA RECORDERS DK600/602 ................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Field Season at Buck Island 1998 ...........................................................................................10 3.1.2 Field Season at Buck Island 1999 ...........................................................................................12 3.1.3 Field Season at Mona Island 2002 .......................................................................................... 13 3.1.4 Attachment of DK600/602 ....................................................................................................... 14 3.1.5 Test of attachment material under laboratory conditions ....................................................... 18 3.2 LONG-TERM DATA RECORDERS MK7 ............................................................................................... 19 3.2.1 Attachment of MK7.................................................................................................................. 20 3.3 HANDLING OF TURTLES AND COLLECTION OF ADDITIONAL DATA ..................................................... 22 3.4 GEO-LOCATION SYSTEM.................................................................................................................... 23 3.5 CALIBRATION PROCEDURES............................................................................................................... 24 3.6 DATA ANALYSES AND STATISTICS..................................................................................................... 25 4 CHAPTERS ............................................................................................27 4.1 TECHNIQUE FOR REPETITIVE DATA-LOGGER ATTACHMENTS TO SEA TURTLES ................................ 27 4.1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 27 4.1.2 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 27 4.1.3 Discussion................................................................................................................................ 29 4.2 BEHAVIOUR DURING DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE LIFE CYCLE .......................................................... 31 4.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 31 4.2.2 Specific Methodology .............................................................................................................. 33 4.2.3 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 34 4.2.4 Discussion................................................................................................................................ 67 4.3 REACTION TO HURRICANE GEORGES..................................................................................................77 4.3.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................77 4.3.2 Results ......................................................................................................................................78 4.3.3 Discussion ................................................................................................................................87 4.4 EXTENT OF MIGRATORY BEHAVIOUR.................................................................................................91 4.4.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................91 4.4.2 Specific Methodology...............................................................................................................92 4.4.3 Results ......................................................................................................................................92 4.4.4 Discussion ................................................................................................................................97 4.5 TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT DIVE BEHAVIOUR ................................................................................103 4.5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................103 4.5.2 Specific Methodology.............................................................................................................104 4.5.3 Results ....................................................................................................................................104 4.5.4 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................111 4.6 SCALING OF DIVING CAPACITIES......................................................................................................117 4.6.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................117 4.6.2 Specific Methodology.............................................................................................................118 4.6.3 Results ....................................................................................................................................120 4.6.4 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................129 5 CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK ...................................................137 6 SUMMARY...........................................................................................139 7 ZUSAMMENFASSUNG......................................................................142 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................147 9 REFERENCES .....................................................................................149 10 DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS .........................................164 APPENDIX ...........................................................................................167 PUBLIKATIONEN..............................................................................169 1 General Introduction 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION Of the total of 8 species of sea turtles 7 species, including the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata, Linnaeus 1766), belong to the family Cheloniidae, while only the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) belongs to the family Dermochelydae. In contrast to Dermochelys the Cheloniidae are characterised by keratin scutes, covering the well-developed bony carapace and plastron. The digits of the extremities are bound together by connective tissue as an adaptation to the aquatic life of sea turtles. Adult Cheloniidae propel themselves by using the conspicuously elongated forelimbs for powerstroking while steering with the rear flippers (as reviewed by Wyneken 1996 in Lutz & Musick 1996). Head and flippers are non-retractile and covered with numerous small scales (see Witzell 1983 for review). The Hawksbill Turtle is the only species of the genus Eretmochelys. This species has a narrowly tapered, beak-like mouth (hence the English name) that it uses to pick food out of reef crevices (Carr 1966). Adult Hawksbill Turtles, both sexes typically weighing between 43 and 76 kg (Márquez 1990), feed on a variety of benthic invertebrates, but are highly specialised to take sponges in the Caribbean part of their distribution range (Meylan 1988). In contrast to other species of sea turtles that can be found at higher latitudes, Hawksbill Turtles are strictly limited to tropical areas of the oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean, Red Sea), where they inhabit coastal reefs, bays, estuaries and lagoons (see Witzell 1983). The keratin scutes are typically imbricated (hence the Latin name) and particularly thick, i.e. they are well adapted to endure abrasions and impact from sharp reef overhangs. The scutes were, and still are, highly priced as 'tortoiseshell' due to their beautiful coloration. The traditional use of bekko (Japanese for tortoiseshell) in Japan is believed to date back to more than 1000 years ago (Ecchu 1992), however, it was only in