Seasonal variability in voluntary dive duration of the Mediterranean loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta

We characterised the effect of seasonal fluctuations in water temperature (Tw) on the nonventilatory period (NVP) of Mediterranean loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta. Ten captive turtles, that were subject to the natural variations in Tw found in the Gulf of Naples, dived significantly longer when...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScientia marina Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 371 - 375
Main Authors Bentivegna, Flegra, Hochscheid, Sandra, Minucci, Carmen
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 01.09.2003
Subjects
apnoea
Caretta caretta
dive duration
Marine
sea turtle
season
temperature effect
MED, Italy, Campania, Napoli, Napoli Gulf
apnea
dive duration
sea turtle
efecto de temperatura
tortuga marina
apnoea
season
tiempo de inmersión
temperature effect
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Summary:We characterised the effect of seasonal fluctuations in water temperature (Tw) on the nonventilatory period (NVP) of Mediterranean loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta. Ten captive turtles, that were subject to the natural variations in Tw found in the Gulf of Naples, dived significantly longer when Tw decreased. More than 50% of summer and winter dives lasted between 2 and 10 min; the maximum dive duration (120 min) occurred in winter at a Tw of 13°C. The longest NVP coincided with a low level of activity and a lower food consumption. This, and a reduced metabolic rate consequent to acclimatisation to a low Tw were likely to have influenced NVP.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0214-8358
1886-8134
DOI:10.3989/scimar.2003.67n3371