The ontogenetic scaling of bite force and head size in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): Implications for durophagy in neritic, benthic habitats

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dc.contributor.authorMarshall, Christopher D.
dc.contributor.authorGuzman, Alejandra
dc.contributor.authorNarazaki, Tomoko
dc.contributor.authorSato, Katsufumi
dc.contributor.authorKane, Emily
dc.contributor.authorSterba-Boatwright, Blair
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4513-3432en_US
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7557-4784en_US
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0414-4875en_US
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0429-2170en_US
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4513-3432
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7557-4784
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0414-4875
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0429-2170
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4513-3432
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7557-4784
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0414-4875
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0429-2170http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4513-3432
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7557-4784
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0414-4875
dc.creator.orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0429-2170
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-15T14:36:30Z
dc.date.available2022-03-15T14:36:30Z
dc.date.issued2012-12-01
dc.description.abstractOntogenetic studies of vertebrate feeding performance can help address questions relevant to foraging ecology. Feeding morphology and performance can either limit access to food resources or open up new trophic niches in both aquatic and terrestrial systems. Loggerhead sea turtles are long-lived vertebrates with complex life histories that are marked by an ontogenetic shift from an oceanic habitat to a coastal neritic habitat, and a transition from soft oceanic prey to hard, benthic prey. Although considered durophagous and strong biters, bite performance has not been measured in loggerheads, nor has the ontogeny of bite performance been characterized. In the present study, we collected measurements of bite force in loggerhead turtles from hatchlings to adults. When subadults reach the body size at which the ontogenetic shift occurs, their crushing capability is great enough for them to consume numerous species of hard benthic prey of small sizes. As loggerheads mature and bite performance increases, larger and harder benthic prey become accessible. Loggerhead bite performance eventually surpasses the crushing capability of other durophagous carnivores, thereby potentially reducing competition for hard benthic prey. The increasing bite performance and accompanying changes in morphology of the head and jaws are likely an effective mechanism for resource partitioning and decreasing trophic competition. Simultaneous measurements of body and head size and the use of non-linear reduced major axis regression show that bite force increases with significant positive allometry relative to body size (straight carapace length, straight carapace width and mass) and head size (head width, height and length). Simple correlation showed that all recorded morphometrics were good predictors of measured bite performance, but an AICc-based weighted regression showed that body size (straight carapace width followed by straight carapace length and mass, respectively) were more likely predictors of bite force than head size morphometrics (head width and head length).en_US
dc.identifier.citationMarshall, C.D., Guzman, A., Narazaki, T., Sato, K., Kane, E.A. and Sterba-Boatwright, B.D., 2012. The ontogenetic scaling of bite force and head size in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): implications for durophagy in neritic, benthic habitats. Journal of Experimental Biology, 215(23), pp.4166-4174.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.074385
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/90274
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherThe company of biologisten_US
dc.subjectbitingen_US
dc.subjectperformanceen_US
dc.subjectontogenyen_US
dc.subjectdurophagyen_US
dc.subjectloggerhead sea turtlesen_US
dc.subjectcompetitionen_US
dc.titleThe ontogenetic scaling of bite force and head size in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): Implications for durophagy in neritic, benthic habitatsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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