Seasonal variability in voluntary dive duration of the Mediterranean loggerhead turtle, <i>Caretta caretta </i>

Flegra Bentivegna; Sandra Hochscheid; Carmen Minucci

doi:10.3989/scimar.2003.67n3371

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

Authors

Flegra Bentivegna Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn"
Sandra Hochscheid Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn"
Carmen Minucci Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn"

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2003.67n3371

Keywords:

dive duration, temperature effect, sea turtle, season, apnoea

Abstract

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.

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Published

2003-09-30

How to Cite

Bentivegna F, Hochscheid S, Minucci C. Seasonal variability in voluntary dive duration of the Mediterranean loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta . Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2003Sep.30 [cited 2025May1];67(3):371-5. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/488

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Issue

Vol. 67 No. 3 (2003)

Section

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