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SEFSC Metadata Library > Marine Mammal and Turtle Division > SEFSC Marine Turtle > Beaufort Protected Resources Sea Turtles > Funded Projects > Adult loggerhead turtle size, age, stage durati... >

USAtlantic_adult_loggerhead_turtle_size_age_stage_duration.csv

Entity (ENT)  |  Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36142  |  Updated: April 22, 2025  |  Published / External 
Summary
Item Identification
Physical Location
Entity Info
Data Attributes
Catalog Details

Summary

Abstract

The ages and sizes at which organisms mature, as well as their longevity, have implications for lifetime reproductive success and population persistence. For endangered species such as sea turtles, age and growth data can be challenging to measure through direct observation.

To address this data need, we collaborated with participants in the national Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network to collect bones from dead, stranded loggerhead sea turtles along the US Atlantic coast, as well as in the US Gulf of America, and conducted sectioning and histological processing to highlight the skeletal growth marks within. The number and spacing of these LAGs allowed us to estimate ages and annual growth rates associated with loggerhead sizes and calendar years.

Description

These data were yielded by analysis of skeletal growth marks in humerus bones of juvenile and adult loggerhead sea turtles collected along the US Atlantic coast by participants in the national Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Entity Information

Entity Type
Data Table

Data Attribute / Type Description
ID
Numeric 		Individual-specific turtle identification number
SCL_Initial
Numeric 		Estimate of initial Straight Carapace Length (cm) for the annual somatic growth increment
Age
Numeric 		Estimated age in years at the beginning of the annual somatic growth incremen
Sex
Character 		Sex of the turtle as determined through necropsy (female, male, unknown)
State
Character 		Abbreviation for US State in which stranded sea turtle was recovered In all cases in which FL is indicated, it is always on the Atlantic Coast of Florida.
SCL_Mean
Numeric 		Estimate of mean Straight Carapace Length in cm for the annual somatic growth increment
Growth
Numeric 		Annual somatic growth rate (centimeter/Year) change in carapace length.
Year
Numeric 		Calendar year associated with the annual somatic growth rate

Child Items

No Child Items for this record.

Contact Information

No contact information is available for this record.

Please contact the owner organization (SEFSC) for inquiries on this record.

Item Identification

Title: USAtlantic_adult_loggerhead_turtle_size_age_stage_duration.csv
Status: Completed
Abstract:

The ages and sizes at which organisms mature, as well as their longevity, have implications for lifetime reproductive success and population persistence. For endangered species such as sea turtles, age and growth data can be challenging to measure through direct observation.

To address this data need, we collaborated with participants in the national Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network to collect bones from dead, stranded loggerhead sea turtles along the US Atlantic coast, as well as in the US Gulf of America, and conducted sectioning and histological processing to highlight the skeletal growth marks within. The number and spacing of these LAGs allowed us to estimate ages and annual growth rates associated with loggerhead sizes and calendar years.

Purpose:

To increase understanding of life stage durations of sea turtles in different regions, where sea turtles experience different threats to survival. In addition, region-specific age and longevity data are integral to models that facilitate evaluation of population status.

Physical Location

Organization: Southeast Fisheries Science Center
City: Beaufort
State/Province: NC
Country: USA
Location Description:

NOAA Beaufort Laboratory

Entity Information

Entity Type: Data Table
Active Version?: Yes
Description:

These data were yielded by analysis of skeletal growth marks in humerus bones of juvenile and adult loggerhead sea turtles collected along the US Atlantic coast by participants in the national Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Data Attributes

Attribute Summary

Rubric Score Primary Key? Name Type Description
100
 ID Numeric Individual-specific turtle identification number
100
 SCL_Initial Numeric Estimate of initial Straight Carapace Length (cm) for the annual somatic growth increment
100
 Age Numeric Estimated age in years at the beginning of the annual somatic growth incremen
100
 Sex Character Sex of the turtle as determined through necropsy (female, male, unknown)
100
 State Character Abbreviation for US State in which stranded sea turtle was recovered In all cases in which FL is indicated, it is always on the Atlantic Coast of Florida.
100
 SCL_Mean Numeric Estimate of mean Straight Carapace Length in cm for the annual somatic growth increment
100
 Growth Numeric Annual somatic growth rate (centimeter/Year) change in carapace length.
100
 Year Numeric Calendar year associated with the annual somatic growth rate

Attribute Details

ID

CC ID: 368470
Seq. Order: 10
Data Storage Type: Numeric
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Precision: 3
Status: Active
Description:

Individual-specific turtle identification number

SCL_Initial

CC ID: 368475
Seq. Order: 15
Data Storage Type: Numeric
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Estimate of initial Straight Carapace Length (cm) for the annual somatic growth increment
Unit of Measure: cm
Display Example: 30.4
Format Mask: ##.#

Age

CC ID: 368468
Seq. Order: 20
Data Storage Type: Numeric
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Precision: 5
Scale: 2
Status: Active
Description:

Estimated age in years at the beginning of the annual somatic growth incremen
Unit of Measure: years
Display Example: 12.54
Format Mask: ##.##

Sex

CC ID: 368471
Seq. Order: 30
Data Storage Type: Character
Max Length: 7
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Sex of the turtle as determined through necropsy (female, male, unknown)
Allowed Values: female male unknown

State

CC ID: 368472
Seq. Order: 35
Data Storage Type: Character
Max Length: 2
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Abbreviation for US State in which stranded sea turtle was recovered

In all cases in which FL is indicated, it is always on the Atlantic Coast of Florida.

Validation Rules:

Should be a state on the Atlantic Coast

SCL_Mean

CC ID: 368473
Seq. Order: 40
Data Storage Type: Numeric
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Precision: 4
Scale: 1
Status: Active
Description:

Estimate of mean Straight Carapace Length in cm for the annual somatic growth increment
Unit of Measure: cm
Null Value Meaning:

not determined

Growth

CC ID: 368469
Seq. Order: 50
Data Storage Type: Numeric
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Precision: 4
Scale: 1
Status: Active
Description:

Annual somatic growth rate (centimeter/Year) change in carapace length.

Unit of Measure: cm/year
Null Value Meaning:

not determined

Year

CC ID: 368474
Seq. Order: 80
Data Storage Type: Numeric
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Precision: 4
Status: Active
Description:

Calendar year associated with the annual somatic growth rate
Display Example: 1999

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 36142
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36142
Metadata Record Created By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Created: 2016-12-30 09:18+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2025-04-22 06:48+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2021-04-29
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2021-04-29
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2022-04-29