Adult female loggerhead turtles around Japan 1999

Hideo Hatase

doi:10.15468/j8mwm9

Adult female loggerhead turtles around Japan 1999

Citation

Hatase H, Takai N, Matsuzawa Y, Sakamoto W, Omuta K, Goto K, Arai N, Fujiwara T. 2002. Size-related differences in feeding habitat use of adult female loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta around Japan determined by stable isotope analyses and satellite telemetry. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol. 233: 273-281. https://doi.org/10.15468/j8mwm9 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-15.

Description

Original provider: Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo Dataset credits: Hideo Hatase, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo Abstract: Stable isotope analyses and satellite telemetry were used to investigate the relationship between the body size and feeding habitat of adult female loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta around Japan. A total of 149 females from 2 nesting sites, 600 km apart, 1 in Minabe and 1 in Yakushima, was examined by stable isotope analyses of the egg-yolk in 1998 and 1999. Since there were neither significant intra- nor inter-clutch variations in δ13C or δ15N egg-yolks from the same female, the isotope signatures of a single egg-yolk from any clutch in a nesting season could be used to represent those of its nesting female. Both isotopic values increased as the body size of the nesting female increased, irrespective of nesting site. Comparisons between isotopic values of loggerhead egg-yolks and prey items revealed size-related differences among both feeding habits (planktonic or benthic) and habitat areas (pelagic or neritic) of female loggerheads. In 1999, 5 females nesting in Minabe were tracked by satellite. After the nesting season, 2 females with low isotopic values migrated to the pelagic Pacific along the Kuroshio Current, whereas 3 with high isotopic values migrated to the neritic East China Sea. The former females were smaller than the latter. These results were consistent with inferences from stable isotope analyses and previous findings, indicating that the body size, habitat area, and feeding habit of female loggerheads around Japan are closely related. In addition, there were no significant differences in δ13C or δ15N between recruits and remigrants, implying that female loggerheads do not change their feeding habitats during the reproductive stage. We postulate that female habitat selection as a function of body size is closely related to the recruitment and settlement in immature loggerheads, which return to Japan after developmental migrations in the North Pacific.

Purpose

Not available

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Caretta caretta
common name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Japan

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Hideo Hatase
originator
position: Primary contact
Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo (Hatase)
email: hatase@aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Hideo Hatase
owner
position: Primary contact
Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo (Hatase)
email: hatase@aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Hideo Hatase
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo (Hatase)
email: hatase@aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp