Respiratory frequency, dive behaviour and social interactions of leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea during the inter-nesting interval

摘要: Abstract We collected simultaneous dive Time Depth Recorder (TDR) data and video images from free swimming adult female leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea , during the first 24 h after nesting on beach, in order to determine relationships between parameters, activity, overall respiratory frequency behaviour. identified three different underwater locomotory activities (subsurface swimming, V-shaped dives U-shaped dives) TDR that varied their mean depth, duration a number of other parameters. Overall (overall f R ) was significantly all activities, with turtles taking 1.7±0.1 breaths min −1 while subsurface 0.78 0.57 dives. Descent rates ascent were faster (descent 0.19±0.010 m s 0.28±0.015 than 0.10±0.008 0.12±0.012 ). Flipper stroke lower bottom component (0.18±0.02 strokes descent (0.29±0.03 or From flipper rate data, we inferred used less energy activity types. recorded interactions male study females lasted up 11 min, which displayed characteristic courtship behaviour sea turtles. It appeared attempted avoid males by aborting extending swim floor when present.