Fredyanna Gabriellia Tinsung (2017) Growth rates and site preference of sea turtles in Mabul and Sipadan Islands, Sabah, Malaysia. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
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Abstract
Mabul and Sipadan Islands which are both located at the east coast of Sabah, served not only as the nesting beaches for the female sea turtles but also as habitat and foraging ground for the resident sea turtles. The objectives of this study were to monitor the short-term growth rates, site fidelity and the morphometrics relationship of the resident sea turtles through capture, mark and recapture technique in Mabul and Sipadan Islands, Malaysia. Eight (8) sampling trips to the study sites was conducted from August 2010 until December 2011 resulting in a total of 810 successful captures of green and hawksbill turtles. Seven (7) morphometric measurements for the green turtle, Chelonia mydas and thirteen (13) for hawksbill, Eretmoche/ys imbricata were collected and the relationship between each attribute was analysed with simple linear regression. The short-term growth rates of the resident green and hawksbill turtles were recorded based on the increment of straight carapace length (SCL) measurements which were recorded during the first and subsequent captures. Data for site-fidelity was recorded based on the established dive sites in both islands where the turtles were found and analysed based on the number of captures at these specific sites. The mean short-term growth rate of juvenile green turtles in Mabul was 20.44mm/yr±17.16 SD which was higher than the adult female turtles which was 1.lOmm/yr±l.146 SD. Higher short-term growth rates were also observed in juvenile green turtles in Sipadan which was 13.Slmm/yr±ll.685O as compared to adult male turtles with a mean growth rate of 1.1mm/yr±2.56SD. As observed in green turtles, the short-term growth rates in juvenile hawksbill turtles in Mabul and Sipadan Islands were higher as compared to the adult turtles. Based on the frequency of turtles captured in each sampling site, the turtles in Mabul (x2 = 118.7, df = 7, p< 0.000) and Sipadan (x2 = 386.062, df = 9, p<0.000) significantly preferred selected sites over others. The morphometric data of green and hawksbill turtles in Mabul and Sipadan showed positive correlation between each attribute. The high number of juvenile turtles in this study indicates a healthy recruitment of green and hawksbill turtles in Mabul and Sipadan islands.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Keyword: | Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Sea turtle ecology, Site fidelity |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QL Zoology > QL1-991 Zoology > QL605-739.8 Chordates. Vertebrates > QL640-669.3 Reptiles and amphibians |
| Department: | INSTITUTE > Borneo Marine Research Institute |
| Depositing User: | DG MASNIAH AHMAD - |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jul 2025 10:53 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Jul 2025 10:53 |
| URI: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/44312 |
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