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Age and growth rates of Hawaiian hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) using skeletochronology

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Abstract

The Hawaiian hawksbill population has fewer than 20 females nesting per year; hence, there is a need to monitor this population closely and basic biological information on individual growth and age to maturity is critical. We present a skeletochronology analysis of Hawaiian hawksbills using humeri recovered from 30 dead stranded hawksbills, plus 10 dead hatchlings. Growth mark morphology shows readily distinguishable marks similar in appearance to other species, though some animals displayed more diffuse marks. Growth rates remained high (average 2.24–4.77 cm year−1) from 20 to 80 cm straight carapace length (SCL). Hawksbills larger than 80 cm SCL had average growth rates of 0.3 cm year−1. There were few adult turtles in the sample; however, results indicate hawksbills have faster growth rates than loggerhead or green turtles, with probable average age to maturity (at size 78.6 cm SCL) occurring between 17 and 22 years.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Shandell Brunson for her technical assistance with this project, the research partners of the Hawaiian Islands Marine Turtle Stranding Research Network for assistance with obtaining samples, and F. Parrish, K. Van Houtan and two anonymous reviewers for comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. This work complies with all animal experimentation and ethics standards of the USA. All work was performed under and complied with the provisions of Sea Turtle Research Permit TE739350 issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by the authors or their institutions.

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Author notes

  1. Melissa L. Snover

    Present address: Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Milepost 237 George Parks Highway, Denali Park, AK, 99755, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2570 Dole St., Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Melissa L. Snover, George H. Balazs, Shawn K. K. Murakawa & Stacy K. Hargrove

  2. Hawaii Preparatory Academy, 65-1692 Kohala Mt. Rd., Kamuela, HI, 96743, USA

    Marc R. Rice

  3. Hawaii Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaii-Mānoa, P.O. Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI, 96718, USA

    William A. Seitz

  4. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI, 96718, USA

    William A. Seitz

Authors
  1. Melissa L. Snover
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  2. George H. Balazs
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  3. Shawn K. K. Murakawa
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  4. Stacy K. Hargrove
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  5. Marc R. Rice
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  6. William A. Seitz
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Correspondence to Melissa L. Snover.

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Communicated by R. Lewison.

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Snover, M.L., Balazs, G.H., Murakawa, S.K.K. et al. Age and growth rates of Hawaiian hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) using skeletochronology. Mar Biol 160, 37–46 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2058-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2058-7

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