Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Milton, Sarah L.

Abstract

Specific dynamic action (SDA) describes a post-feeding increase in oxygen consumption where most energy derived from food is allocated to post-absorptive processes, including growth and maintenance. SDA and growth in hatchling sea turtles is of special interest because they experience drastic changes in diet, oxygen availability and habitat during the first several months of life. This study investigated SDA variation between species and among age groups. SDA was quantified in two species of sea turtle (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta) at 7, 30, 60, & 90 days post-hatching. Turtles were fed a known amount of food, and oxygen consumption was monitored using a metabolic chamber. SDA percentage of total energy did not increase with age (species pooled), although magnitude of SDA was higher in C. mydas when compared to C. caretta (ages pooled). These results imply that SDA does not increase proportionally with age, and that hatchling C. mydas use more absolute energy for SDA than C. caretta .

Extent

58 p.

Comments

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2005.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

Identifier

FADT13283

Format

pdf

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