| Behaviour and buoyancy regulation in the deepest-diving reptile: the leatherback turtle. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21075949 Owner: NLM Status: In-Process |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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In the face of the physical and physiological challenges of performing breath-hold deep dives, marine vertebrates have evolved different strategies. Although behavioural strategies in marine mammals and seabirds have been investigated in detail, little is known about the deepest-diving reptile - the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Here, we deployed tri-axial accelerometers on female leatherbacks nesting on St Croix, US Virgin Islands, to explore their diving strategy. Our results show a consistent behavioural pattern within dives among individuals, with an initial period of active swimming at relatively steep descent angles (∼-40 deg), with a stroke frequency of 0.32 Hz, followed by a gliding phase. The depth at which the gliding phase began increased with the maximum depth of the dives. In addition, descent body angles and vertical velocities were higher during deeper dives. Leatherbacks might thus regulate their inspired air-volume according to the intended dive depth, similar to hard-shelled turtles and penguins. During the ascent, turtles actively swam with a stroke frequency of 0.30 Hz but with a low vertical velocity (∼0.40 ms(-1)) and a low pitch angle (∼+26 deg). Turtles might avoid succumbing to decompression sickness ('the bends') by ascending slowly to the surface. In addition, we suggest that the low body temperature of this marine ectotherm compared with that of endotherms might help reduce the risk of bubble formation by increasing the solubility of nitrogen in the blood. This physiological advantage, coupled with several behavioural and physical adaptations, might explain the particular ecological niche the leatherback turtle occupies among marine reptiles. |
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Authors:
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Sabrina Fossette; Adrian C Gleiss; Andy E Myers; Steve Garner; Nikolai Liebsch; Nicholas M Whitney; Graeme C Hays; Rory P Wilson; Molly E Lutcavage |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The Journal of experimental biology Volume: 213 ISSN: 1477-9145 ISO Abbreviation: J. Exp. Biol. Publication Date: 2010 Dec |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-11-15 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0243705 Medline TA: J Exp Biol Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 4074-83 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Pure and Applied Ecology, Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK. sabrina.fossette@gmail.com |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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