Studies on the mechanism that maintains alternative life histories in a sea turtle population

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870141
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic bioproduction science; Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: HATASE Hideo 東京大学, 大気海洋研究所, 技術補佐員 (10512303)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ウミガメ / 生活史 / 回遊 / 多型 / 餌場 / 安定同位体分析 / 卵 / 孵化幼体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Small planktivores inhabiting oceanic areas (>200 m) and large benthivores inhabiting neritic areas (<200 m) coexist within a loggerhead sea turtle nesting population. In the present study, to reveal whether this size-related foraging dichotomy is maintained genetically or environmentally, the consequences of maternal alternative foraging behaviors on the quantity and quality of offspring were investigated. Neritic foragers produced 2.4-fold more offspring than oceanic ones, while there seemed to be no differences in offspring quality between the foragers. These results suggested that the quantity of offspring is not offset by its quality, and that the foraging dichotomy is maintained environmentally.

Free Research Field

海洋生物学