67631
Use of skeletochronological analysis to estimate the age of leatherback sea turtles Dermochelys coriacea in the western North Atlantic
Document
Published / External
26473
Leatherback sea turtle age and growth
Data Set
Completed
2009-07-13
Although growth rate and age data are essential for leatherback management, esti?mates of these demographic parameters remain speculative due to the cryptic life history of this endangered species. Skeletochronological analysis of scleral ossicles obtained from 8 captive, known-age and 33 wild leatherbacks originating from the western North Atlantic was conducted to characterize the ossicles and the growth marks within them. Ages were accurately estimated for the known-age turtles, and their growth mark attributes were used to calibrate growth mark counts for the ossicles from wild specimens. Due to growth mark compaction and resorption, the number of marks visible at ossicle section tips was consistently and significantly greater than the number visible along the lateral edges, demonstrating that growth mark counts should be performed at the tips so that age is not underestimated. A correction factor protocol that incorporated the trajectory of early growth increments was used to estimate the number of missing marks in those ossicles exhibiting resorption, which was then added to the number of observed marks to obtain an age estimate for each turtle. A generalized smoothing spline model, von Bertalanffy growth curve, and size-at-age function were used to obtain estimates of age at maturity for leatherbacks in the western North Atlantic. Results of these analyses suggest that median age at maturation for leatherbacks in this part of the world may range from 24.5 to 29 yr. These age estimates are much greater than those proposed in previous studies and have significant implications for population management and recovery
Avens L, Taylor JC, Goshe LR, Jones TT, Hastings M (2009) Use of skeletochronological analysis to estimate the age of leatherback sea turtles Dermochelys coriacea in the western North Atlantic. Endang Species Res 8:165-177. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00202
Published in ESR Vol. 8, No. 3. Online publication date: July 13, 2009
Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796
Copyright 2009 Inter-Research.
10.3354/esr00202
Journal article
Acrobat Portable Document Format
Published
2009-07-13
http://www.doi.org/10.3354/esr00202
gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:67631
Lee Weinberger
2022-08-07T21:23:31
Lee Weinberger
2022-08-10T12:48:03
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