No description available.

No description available.

Posthatchling green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles overlap ecologically but differ morphologically. This study compared hydrodynamic stability between the two species during swimming to test for functional differences in body shape. Flipper movement paths, four stability measures (yaw, pitch, heave, and sideslip), and the relative positions of the centers of buoyancy and gravity were compared between species. Both centers of buoyancy and gravity lie in the anterior body; their positions relative to one another differed with species, but showed no functional consequences. Neither species demonstrated substantial yaw, sideslip, or pitch. Both experienced upward heave with the flippers' downstroke and downward heave with the upstroke; however phase relationships differed between these limb and body motions. No differences were found between the two species. Despite obvious morphological differences, loggerheads and green turtles were similarly stable during swimming, suggesting that the species use different mechanisms to achieve stability. / by Erin Dougherty. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-60). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008.

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 22-25). Also available on microfilm.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (January 12, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-69)

Beach nourishment has become common in Florida and it occurs on beaches that are major loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nesting grounds. Despite efforts to use beach-quality sand, nourishment sand may be different in grain size, moisture content, shear resistance and temperature when compared to native sand. Two main aspects of loggerhead nesting may be affected by nourishment. First, nourishment may reduce nesting success [(female nesting emergences/ female total emergences) X 100] due to physical barriers (i.e., scarps or steep cliffs) that can impede gravid females. Second, nourishment may reduce reproductive success {i.e., hatching success) by altering the nestsand environment. The objective of this study was to compare loggerhead nesting success, nest placement, slopes at nest sites, nest depths, incubation periods, reproductive success and egg fates among an old renourished beach {"south"), a recently nourished beach ("treatment") and a natural beach ("control") at Sebastian Inlet, Florida in 1996, 1997 and 1998. In all three years, nesting success was significantly different among study sites. After nourishment (1997), nesting success was reduced at the treatment site due to a seaward scarp. A year later (1998), the scarp was leveled and nesting success improved. Nest placement was not significantly different between study sites prior to nourishm_ent of the treatment study site (1996), but it was after nourishment (1997) and one-year post-nourishment (1998). After nourishment, most nests at the treatment beach were placed too close to the water or too close to the dune. There were no significant differences in the slope at nest sites in 1997; suggesting females may have selected similar increases in slope, but at varied cross-shore locations. Nest depths were significantly shallower at the treatment beach after nourishment, probably due to higher compaction of the nourishment sand. In addition, incubation periods were significantly longer on the nourished beaches one year post-nourishment. Loggerhead hatching success was significantly reduced on the nourished beaches in 1996 and 1997. The reduction was seen primarily in a larger proportion of eggs that were arrested early in development. The higher moisture in the nourishment sand may have impeded gas exchange, which resulted in decreased hatching success. One year post-nourishment (1998), there were no significant differences in hatching success. The lack of rainfall in 1998 may have introduced better incubation conditions on the nourished beaches. Researchers at the Florida Institute of Technology continued to show that the nourishment sand exhibited significantly smaller grain size, higher moisture content, lower temperature and higher shear resistance. These attributes were probably responsible for many of the results reported herein. However, other variables such as non-random nest depredation, inlet influences and water table levels may have also contributed to the results.

No description available.

No description available.