The diving behaviour of green turtles undertaking oceanic migration to and from Ascension Island: dive durations, dive profiles and depth distribution
(2001) In Journal of Experimental Biology 204(23). p.4093-4098- Abstract
- Satellite telemetry was used to record the submergence duration of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) as they migrated from Ascension Island to Brazil (N=12 individuals) while time/depth recorders (TDRs) were used to examine the depth distribution and dive profiles of individuals returning to Ascension Island to nest after experimental displacement (N=5 individuals). Satellite telemetry revealed that most submergences were short (<5 min) but that some submergences were longer (>20 min), particularly at night. TDRs revealed that much of the time was spent conducting short (24 min), shallow (approximately 0.91.5 m) dives, consistent with predictions for optimisation of near-surface travelling, while long (typically 2030 min), deep... (More)
- Satellite telemetry was used to record the submergence duration of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) as they migrated from Ascension Island to Brazil (N=12 individuals) while time/depth recorders (TDRs) were used to examine the depth distribution and dive profiles of individuals returning to Ascension Island to nest after experimental displacement (N=5 individuals). Satellite telemetry revealed that most submergences were short (<5 min) but that some submergences were longer (>20 min), particularly at night. TDRs revealed that much of the time was spent conducting short (24 min), shallow (approximately 0.91.5 m) dives, consistent with predictions for optimisation of near-surface travelling, while long (typically 2030 min), deep (typically 1020 m) dives had a distinctive profile found in other marine reptiles. These results suggest that green turtles crossing the Atlantic do not behave invariantly, but instead alternate between periods of travelling just beneath the surface and diving deeper. These deep dives may have evolved to reduce silhouetting against the surface, which would make turtles more susceptible to visual predators such as large sharks. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/131255
- author
- Hays, G. C. ; Åkesson, Susanne LU ; Broderick, A. C. ; Glen, F. ; Godley, B. J. ; Luschi, P. ; Martin, C. ; Metcalfe, D. and Papi, F.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2001
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Journal of Experimental Biology
- volume
- 204
- issue
- 23
- pages
- 4093 - 4098
- publisher
- The Company of Biologists Ltd
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000172748700009
- scopus:0035746192
- ISSN
- 1477-9145
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2a2983b0-1992-4a07-87ae-1c9c61bc3d84 (old id 131255)
- alternative location
- http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/abstract/204/23/4093
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:32:52
- date last changed
- 2024-03-12 15:51:54
@article{2a2983b0-1992-4a07-87ae-1c9c61bc3d84, abstract = {{Satellite telemetry was used to record the submergence duration of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) as they migrated from Ascension Island to Brazil (N=12 individuals) while time/depth recorders (TDRs) were used to examine the depth distribution and dive profiles of individuals returning to Ascension Island to nest after experimental displacement (N=5 individuals). Satellite telemetry revealed that most submergences were short (<5 min) but that some submergences were longer (>20 min), particularly at night. TDRs revealed that much of the time was spent conducting short (24 min), shallow (approximately 0.91.5 m) dives, consistent with predictions for optimisation of near-surface travelling, while long (typically 2030 min), deep (typically 1020 m) dives had a distinctive profile found in other marine reptiles. These results suggest that green turtles crossing the Atlantic do not behave invariantly, but instead alternate between periods of travelling just beneath the surface and diving deeper. These deep dives may have evolved to reduce silhouetting against the surface, which would make turtles more susceptible to visual predators such as large sharks.}}, author = {{Hays, G. C. and Åkesson, Susanne and Broderick, A. C. and Glen, F. and Godley, B. J. and Luschi, P. and Martin, C. and Metcalfe, D. and Papi, F.}}, issn = {{1477-9145}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{23}}, pages = {{4093--4098}}, publisher = {{The Company of Biologists Ltd}}, series = {{Journal of Experimental Biology}}, title = {{The diving behaviour of green turtles undertaking oceanic migration to and from Ascension Island: dive durations, dive profiles and depth distribution}}, url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2967859/624186.pdf}}, volume = {{204}}, year = {{2001}}, }