Orientation and swimming behavior of hatchling loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta L. during their offshore migration |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Oceanic Observatory of Madeira, Edifício Madeira Tecnopolo, Piso 0, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal;2. MARE, Marine and Environmental Sciences Center, Edifício Madeira Tecnopolo, Piso 0, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal;3. Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen, 4817 His, Norway;4. CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal;5. Laboratório de Biologia Marinha e Oceanografia, Universidade da Madeira, Estação de Biologia Marinha do Funchal, Cais do Carvão, Promenade da Orla Marítima, 9000-107 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal;6. CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, n° 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal. |
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| Abstract: | Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta L. hatchlings emerging from nests on the eastern coast of Florida swim offshore toward the Florida Current. Part of the trip is accomplished during an initial 20-h period of swimming (the “frenzy”); the remainder may take a day or more of oriented swimming. Swimming speeds are slower than those of green turtles Chelonia mydas L. Hatchlings are well oriented in an offshore direction when released into the ocean during the day or night. Completion of a crawl down the beach or a plunge into the surf are unnecessary for proper orientation. Immediately after entering the ocean at night, responses to light appear essential for oriented swimming. However, present hypotheses based upon phototropotaxis may not account for orientation later in the migration. |
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