67630
Regional comparison of leatherback sea turtle maturation attributes and reproductive longevity
Document
Published / External
26473
Leatherback sea turtle age and growth
Data Set
2019-12-03
Data characterizing somatic growth patterns and the ages and sizes at which organisms mature are fundamental to understanding population dynamics. However, obtaining this information for endangered leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) is particularly challenging due to unusual physiology and prevalence of remote oceanic habitat use, which limit direct observation. While inference has been made through indirect approaches such as captive, genetic, and/or skeletal growth mark (skeletochronology) studies, these diverse methods have yielded similarly varied results, limiting usefulness of available information for management and conservation. To address this data gap, we conducted refined skeletochronological analysis of Atlantic and Pacific leatherback scleral ossicle bones, allowing estimation of carapace length-at-age relationships throughout individual turtles lives, including the juvenile life stage. In addition, this improved approach made it possible to estimate mean and range for age and size at sexual maturation (ASM and SSM, respectively), as well as post-maturation longevity. Updated mean ASM estimates from the current study of 17-19 years were lower than those previously proposed using skeletochronology and more similar to predictions from captive growth and genetic data. Maximum estimates of reproductive longevity (18-22 years) were consistent with the 16-19 years reported previously from mark-recapture of nesting females. Together, these results indicate that the application of the refined analytical approach described in the current study may offer opportunities to increase understanding of leatherback age and growth
Avens, L., Goshe, L.R., Zug, G.R. et al. Regional comparison of leatherback sea turtle maturation attributes and reproductive longevity. Mar Biol 167, 4 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3617-y
10.1007/s00227-019-3617-y
Springer
2019-12-03
Journal article
Acrobat Portable Document Format
Published
Author
2019
Person
Avens, Larisa
larisa.avens@noaa.gov
101 Pivers Island Rd.
Beaufort
NC
(252)728-8747
(252)728-8784
Co-Author
2019
Person
Harris, Heather
heather.harris@noaa.gov
501 West Ocean Blvd
Long Beach
CA
90802-4213
(909) 493-6973
(415) 517-5514
(562) 980-4027
Co-Author
2019
Person
Balazs, George H
itsahonuworldinhawaii@hotmail.com
992 Awaawaanoa Place
Honolulu
HI
96825
United States
https://georgehbalazs.com/
George Balazs HomePage
Online Resource
Co-Author
2019
Person
Benson, Scott R
scott.benson@noaa.gov
7544 Sandholdt Road
Moss Landing
CA
95039
USA
(831) 771-4154
(831) 633-0805
M-F 8:30 - 5:00
Co-Author
2019
Person
Goshe, Lisa
lisa.goshe@gmail.com
2019
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3617-y
Landing Page For The Article.
gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:67630
Lee Weinberger
2022-08-07T17:08:14
Lee Weinberger
2022-08-10T12:47:43
2022-08-10
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
SEFSC
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33149
USA
(305)361-5761
www.sefsc.noaa.gov
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
1001
Public
No
2022-08-10
1 Year
2023-08-10