Meeting Abstract

P1.123  Monday, Jan. 4  Seasonal Variation in Maternal Investment of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) KLEIN, T. A.*; ROSTAL, D. C. ; WILLIAMS, K. L.; FRICK, M. G.; Georgia Southern University; Georgia Southern University; Caretta Research Project; Caretta Research Project taklein85@yahoo.com

With respect to reptiles, turtles have the least developed post-ovulatory parental care. Sea turtles have high seasonal fecundity and display little variation in egg size, and instead maximize clutch size. Therefore, understanding maternal contributions and strategies in reproduction can reflect how resources are allocated in response to environmental conditions that affect embryonic development, hatchling and juvenile survival, and population dynamics. This study was conducted on Blackbeard and Wassaw Island National Wildlife Refuges during the 2008 and 2009 Loggerhead sea turtle nesting season. An incubation study was performed in 2009 to determine if there are any differences in in-situ versus constant temperature incubation. Blood samples were taken in order to assess the adult female’s physiological condition. Female physiological condition was compared with nesting event, clutch size, egg size and components. It is known that while egg size decreases over the course of the season, clutch size remains the same. Albumen, the source of the embryos’ ability to absorb the yolk and therefore develop, decreases as the season progresses, while egg yolk and residual yolk mass within the hatchling remains the same. Hatchling size also decreases over the course of the season in in-situ nests however under constant temperature incubation this pattern is not observed. Is the allocation of different egg components across the season a sign that variation in maternal investment is being made in response to abiotic factors?