Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T17:42:21.975Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Thermal and biochemical characteristics of the lipids of the leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea: evidence of endothermy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

J. Davenport ,
D. L. Holland  and
J. East
J. Davenport
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, University College of North Wales, Marine Science Laboratories, Menai Bridge, Gwynedd, LL59 5EY
D. L. Holland
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, University College of North Wales, Marine Science Laboratories, Menai Bridge, Gwynedd, LL59 5EY
J. East
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, University College of North Wales, Marine Science Laboratories, Menai Bridge, Gwynedd, LL59 5EY
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Unlike other sea turtles, the leatherback Dermochelys coriacea forages widely in temperate waters during summer and dives to abyssal depths (>1000 m) where temperatures are low. There is strong anatomical plus limited physiological evidence in favour of at least facultative endothermy. The lipids of leatherbacks exhibit features which are consistent with maintenance of a core temperature above ambient levels when in cool waters. The lipid of flipper adipose tissue freezes at a lower temperature than lipids extracted from the blubber lining carapace and plastron. Lipid freezing points in leatherbacks are lower than for tropical caimans or terrestrial sheep, but higher than for lipids taken from the blubber of a grey seal. Leatherback adipose tissues show levels of unsaturation in neutral lipid fractions intermediate between those of seals and sheep.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 70 , Issue 1 , February 1990 , pp. 33 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ackman, R.G., 1972. The analysis of fatty acids and related materials by gas-liquid chromatography. In Progress in the Chemistry of Fats and other Lipids (ed. Holman, R.T.), pp. 165–285. Oxford: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Bleakney, J.S., 1965. Reports of marine turtles from New England and eastern Canada. Canadian Field Naturalist, 79, 120–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carr, A., 1987. Impact of nondegradable marine debris on the ecology and survival outlook of sea turtles. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 18 (6B), 352–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davenport, J., 1988. Do diving leatherbacks pursue glowing jelly? Bulletin. British Herpetological Society, 24, 20–21.Google Scholar
Davenport, J., Wrench, J., McEvoy, J. & Camacho-Ibar, V., in press. Metal and PCB levels in the Harlech leatherback. Marine Turtle Newsletter.Google Scholar
Eckert, K.L. & Luginbuhl, C. 1988. Death of a giant. Marine Turtle Newsletter, 43, 1–3.Google Scholar
Eckert, S.A., Nellis, D.W., Eckert, K.L. & Kooyman, G.L., 1984. Deep diving record for leatherbacks. Marine Turtle Newsletter, 31, 4.Google Scholar
Eckert, S. A., Nellis, D.W., Eckert, K.L. & Kooyman, G.L., 1986. Diving patterns of two leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) during internesting intervals at Sandy Point, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Herpetologica, 42 (3), 381–388.Google Scholar
Folch, J., Lees, M. & Sloane-Stanley, G.H., 1957. A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 226, 497–509.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frair, W., Ackman, R.G. & Mrosovsky, N., 1972. Body temperature of Dermochelys coriacea: warm turtle from cold water. Science, New York, 177, 791–793.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greer, A.E., Lazell, J.D. & Wright, R.M., 1973. Anatomical evidence for a countercurrent heat exchanger in the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Nature, London, 244, 181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Irving, L., Schmidt-Nielsen, K. & Abrahamsen, N.S.B., 1957. On the melting points of animal fats in cold climates. Physiological Zoology, 30, 93–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mrosovsky, N., 1980. Thermal biology of sea turtles. American Zoologist, 20, 531–547.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mrosovsky, N., 1987. Leatherback turtles off the scale? Nature, London, 327, 286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mrosovsky, N. & Pritchard, P.C.H., 1971. Body temperatures of Dermochelys coriacea and other sea turtles. Copeia, 1971, 624–631.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nishimura, S., 1964. Considerations on the migration of the leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea (L.) in the Japanese and adjacent waters. Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 12, 177–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pritchard, P.C.H. 1969. Sea turtles of the Guianas. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum. Biological Sciences, 13, 85–140.Google Scholar
Sapsford, C.W. & Hughes, G.R., 1978. Body temperature of the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta and the leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea during nesting. Zoologica Africana, 13, 63–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmidt-Nielsen, K. & Espeli, A., 1941. Das Knockenmark beim Rind und Schwein. Kungliga Norske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger, 14, 17–20.Google Scholar