Sea Turtle Husbandry
425
FIGURE 16.4 Comparison of growth and survival of captive sea turtles at different rearing facilities. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) curve
was extrapolated from two data points (from Swingle, W.M. et al. 1993. Exceptional growth rates of captive loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta. Zoo
Biol.
12:491–497, with permission). The Los Roques data were extrapolated (from graphs in Buitrago, J. 1987. Rearing, with aim of repopulating, of three
marine turtle species at Los Roques, Venezuela. Mem. Soc. Cienc. Nat. La Salle.
127–128:169–201, with permission). The Costa Rican data were calculated
from a table (from Gutierrez, W. 1989. Experiences in the captive management of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata)
at Isla Uvita, Puerto Limon,
Costa Rica, pp. 324–326, in: Proceedings of the Second Western Atlantic Turtle Symposium,
Oct. 12–16. L. Ogren (ed.). NOAA Tech. Mem. NMFS-SEFC226, with permission). The NMFS STF data are an average of data taken on 6 year classes from 1995 to 2000. Cc = Caretta caretta;
Lk = Lepidochelys
kempii;
Cm = Chelonia mydas;
Ei = Eretmochelys imbricata.
WEIGHT (g)
75
80
85
90
95
100
% SURVIVAL
Cc (Wt) - VIMS
Lk (Wt) - Los Roques
Cm (Wt) - Los Roques
Ei (Wt) - Los Roques
Ei (Wt) - Costa Rica
Cc (Wt) - NMFS STF
Lk (Wt) - NMFS STF
Lk % - NMFS STF
Ei % - Costa Rica
Cc % - NMFS STF
Ei % - Los Roques
Cm % - Los Roques
Lk % - Los Roques
AGE (months)
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
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