Logo image
Back
Foraging by Immature Hawksbill Sea Turtles at Brazilian Islands
Newsletter article   Open access

Foraging by Immature Hawksbill Sea Turtles at Brazilian Islands

Maíra Proietti, Julia Reisser and Eduardo Secchi
Marine turtle newsletter, (135), pp.4-6
2012
url
Marine Turtle Newsletter_135-2012View
Open

Abstract

Aquatic ecology Biodiversity Foraging behavior Habitats Predation Reptiles & amphibians
Proietti et al study immature hawksbills foraging around three high-biodiversity areas in Brazil, namely the Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo Archipelago (SPSP), the Abrolhos Marine National Park, and Arvoredo Island. Results indicate that hawksbill feeding activity consistently occurred at shallow portions of the reefs at Abrolhos and Arvoredo, and at greater depths at SPSP. Feeding occurred throughout the day and hawksbills seemed to select their prey by searching for them slowly while swimming close to the reef or rocks. In all of the feeding observations hawksbills selected sessile benthic organisms, mainly zoanthids and occasionally sponges. Resting behavior was also observed throughout the day, and hawksbills apparently chose deeper sites for this activity, resting mostly in spots deeper than 4 m at Abrolhos and Arvoredo, and greater than 10 m at SPSP. In 70% of resting observations turtles chose spots under rocks, demonstrating a preference towards assisted resting.

Details

Metrics

65 Record Views
Logo image