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Distribution patterns of epibionts on the carapace of loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Joseph B. Pfaller ,
Karen A. Bjorndal ,
Kimberly J. Reich ,
Kristina L. Williams  and
Michael G. Frick
Joseph B. Pfaller
Affiliation:
Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
Karen A. Bjorndal*
Affiliation:
Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
Kimberly J. Reich
Affiliation:
Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
Kristina L. Williams
Affiliation:
Caretta Research Project, PO Box 9841, Savannah, Georgia 31412, USA
Michael G. Frick
Affiliation:
Caretta Research Project, PO Box 9841, Savannah, Georgia 31412, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Karen A. Bjorndal, Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA email: kab@zoology.ufl.edu
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Abstract

The spatial distribution of epibionts on carapaces of marine turtles may be influenced by variation in recruitment dynamics, water flow patterns, and levels of disturbance on different regions of the carapace. We determined the distribution of 18 taxa of epibionts among nine zones on the carapace of 18 nesting loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) on Wassaw Island, Georgia, USA. Frequency of occurrence (%F) of all epibionts and each taxonomic class was determined for each zone. Distribution patterns were compared with a uniform distribution, and the distribution of each taxonomic class was compared with that of all epibionts combined. The distribution of all epibionts was significantly different from a uniform distribution, with highest densities on the posterior and vertebral zones. Distributions of each class, except Malacostraca and Cirripedia, were not significantly different from a uniform distribution across the carapace. Malacostraca was most dense on the posterior zones, whereas Cirripedia was most dense in the vertebral zones. Distributions of individual classes were all significantly different from the distribution of all epibionts combined. The distribution of all epibionts was strongly influenced by the distributions of the two dominant organisms, the chelonibiid barnacles and the caprellid amphipods.

Keywords

epibiontsmarine turtles
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 1 , January 2008 , e36
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2006

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