Following nest emergence, sea turtle hatchling dispersal can be disrupted by
artificial light or skyglow from urban areas. Mis- or disorientation increases exposure to
predation, thermal stress, and dehydration, could consume valuable energy, and thus
influence the likelihood of survival. This study utilized laboratory simulations of
extended crawl distances and field observations to investigate the energy cost of
disorientation crawling on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea
turtle hatchlings and the impact on the subsequent swim frenzy. Extended crawls
increased oxygen consumption, decreased plasma glucose, and reduced green hatchling
swim performance following a 200m crawl. Surprisingly, plasma lactate concentrations
did not increase with crawl distance, likely due to frequent rest periods that would,
however, increase time on the beach and thus exposure to predators. This research may
provide managers with physiological data to determine best practices for sea turtle
conservation and adds to the biological knowledge of these animals. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fau.edu/oai:fau.digital.flvc.org:fau_33478 |
| Contributors | Pankaew, Karen (author), Milton, Sarah L. (Thesis advisor), Florida Atlantic University (Degree grantor), Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences |
| Publisher | Florida Atlantic University |
| Source Sets | Florida Atlantic University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 67 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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