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Orientation characteristics of immature Kemp's ridley sea turtles, Lepidochelys kempi
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1984
[PDF-2.72 MB]
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Description:Orientation characteristics of immature Lepidochelys kempi were determined during three separate studies. In the first study, a radio tracking technique was used to record the movements of ten yearling L. kempi for a 27 day period following their release into the Gulf of Mexico. The results of the study indicate that the turtles were moving and swimming randomly, relative to geographical and wind directions. However, the turtles exhibited nonrandom movements and nonrandom swimming to current direction. Although they were displaced by the current, the turtles tended to swim against the current. Additionally, the current and the turtle's swimming exerted approximately equal effects on their movements. In the second study, the movements of 3 to 7 month old L. kempi were analyzed using a lagoon orientation arena. Results of the study indicate that the turtles were moving and swimming randomly, relative to the shore position and relative to the brightest direction, but they tended to swim against the current. During the third study, the sea-finding behavior of hatchling L. kempi was analyzed. Findings indicate that the hatchlings possessed not only a phototropotactic orientation mechanism, but also an orientation mechanism(s) that does not rely on light intensity as a cue.
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Content Notes:Thane R. Wibbels.
"January 1984."
Also available online in PDF format via the NOAA Central Library.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 63-66).
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Rights Information:Public Domain
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