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Growth and Gas Exchange of Embryonic Sea Turtles (Chelonia, Caretta)

1981; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists; Volume: 1981; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1444175

1938-5110

Ralph A. Ackerman,

Physiological and biochemical adaptations

The increase in mass of embryonic sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta) with incubation time can be described by a decaying exponential growth equation and appears sigmoidal in pattern. The coefficients required to fit the growth equation to the embryonic data vary among and within species depending on the mass and incubation times of the sea turtle population. When groups of eggs are incubated in artificial nests where gas exchange can be manipulated, rates of growth and hatching success are related to nest gas exchange. Maximal rates of growth (incubation - 60 days) and hatching success occur in a respiratory environment quite similar to that measured in natural nests. As movement of respiratory gases between the nest and the atmosphere is limited, embryonic rates of growth and egg hatching success are reduced.