Title
Energetics During Hatchling Dispersal of the Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea Using Doubly Labeled Water
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2006
Publication Source
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology
Volume
79
Issue
2
Inclusive pages
389-399
ISBN/ISSN
15222152
Peer Reviewed
yes
Abstract
Studies of metabolism are central to the understanding of the ecology, behavior, and evolution of reptiles. This study focuses on one phase of the sea turtle life cycle, hatchling dispersal, and gives insight into energetic constraints that dispersal imposes on hatchlings. Hatchling dispersal is an energetically expensive phase in the life cycle of the olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea. Field metabolic rates (FMRs), determined using the doubly labeled water (DLW) method, for L. olivacea hatchlings digging out of their nest chamber, crawling at the sand surface, and swimming were five, four, and seven times, respectively, the resting metabolic rate (RMR). The cost of swimming was 1.5 and 1.8 times the cost of the digging and crawling phases, respectively, and we estimated that if L. olivacea hatchlings swim at frenzy levels, they can rely on yolk reserves to supply energy for only 3–6 d once they reach the ocean. We compared our RMR and FMR values by establishing an interspecific RMR mass‐scaling relationship for a wide range of species in the order Testudines and found a scaling exponent of 1.06. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using the DLW method to estimate energetic costs of free‐living sea turtle hatchlings and emphasizes the need for metabolic studies in various life‐history stages.
Keywords
olive ridley sea turtle, hatching
Disciplines
Medical Sciences
Opus Citation
S. C. Clusella-Trullas, J. R. Spotila, and Frank V. Paladino (2006).
Energetics During Hatchling Dispersal of the Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea Using Doubly Labeled Water. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.79 (2), 389-399.
https://opus.ipfw.edu/biology_facpubs/154