243
0-8493-1123-3/03/$0.00+$1.50
© 2003 by CRC Press LLC
Variation in Sea Turtle
Life History Patterns:
Neritic vs. Oceanic
Developmental Stages
Alan B. Bolten
CONTENTS
9.1 Introduction .................................................................................................243
9.2 Terminology ................................................................................................244
9.3 Sea Turtle Life History Patterns .................................................................245
9.3.1 Type 1: The Neritic Developmental Pattern ...................................245
9.3.2 Type 2: The Oceanic–Neritic Developmental Pattern ...................247
9.3.3 Type 3: The Oceanic Developmental Pattern .................................248
9.4 Relationships of the Three Life History Patterns to Phylogenetic Patterns
and Reproductive Traits ..............................................................................249
9.4.1 Phylogenetic Patterns ......................................................................249
9.4.2 Reproductive Traits .........................................................................251
9.5 A Closer Look at the Type 2 Pattern: Ontogenetic Habitat Shifts ............251
9.6 Anthropogenic Impacts on the Early Juvenile Stage .................................253
9.7 Conclusions: Research Directions ..............................................................253
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................253
References ............................................................................................................254
9.1 INTRODUCTION
Sea turtles are slow growing and long lived. Their complex life history patterns
encompass a diversity of ecosystems from terrestrial habitats where oviposition and
embryonic development occur to developmental and foraging habitats in coastal waters
(neritic zone) as well as in the open ocean (oceanic zone). Of all the sea turtle life
stages, the biology of post-hatchling and early juvenile stages is the least understood
(i.e., the “mystery of the lost year” [Carr, 1986; Bolten and Balazs, 1995]). For most
sea turtle species, not even the location or duration of the early juvenile stage is known.
9
1123 book.book Page 243 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM
0-8493-1123-3/03/$0.00+$1.50
© 2003 by CRC Press LLC
Variation in Sea Turtle
Life History Patterns:
Neritic vs. Oceanic
Developmental Stages
Alan B. Bolten
CONTENTS
9.1 Introduction .................................................................................................243
9.2 Terminology ................................................................................................244
9.3 Sea Turtle Life History Patterns .................................................................245
9.3.1 Type 1: The Neritic Developmental Pattern ...................................245
9.3.2 Type 2: The Oceanic–Neritic Developmental Pattern ...................247
9.3.3 Type 3: The Oceanic Developmental Pattern .................................248
9.4 Relationships of the Three Life History Patterns to Phylogenetic Patterns
and Reproductive Traits ..............................................................................249
9.4.1 Phylogenetic Patterns ......................................................................249
9.4.2 Reproductive Traits .........................................................................251
9.5 A Closer Look at the Type 2 Pattern: Ontogenetic Habitat Shifts ............251
9.6 Anthropogenic Impacts on the Early Juvenile Stage .................................253
9.7 Conclusions: Research Directions ..............................................................253
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................253
References ............................................................................................................254
9.1 INTRODUCTION
Sea turtles are slow growing and long lived. Their complex life history patterns
encompass a diversity of ecosystems from terrestrial habitats where oviposition and
embryonic development occur to developmental and foraging habitats in coastal waters
(neritic zone) as well as in the open ocean (oceanic zone). Of all the sea turtle life
stages, the biology of post-hatchling and early juvenile stages is the least understood
(i.e., the “mystery of the lost year” [Carr, 1986; Bolten and Balazs, 1995]). For most
sea turtle species, not even the location or duration of the early juvenile stage is known.
9
1123 book.book Page 243 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM