Analysis of why sea turtles swim slowly: a metabolic and mechanical approach

Author:

Kinoshita Chihiro1ORCID,Fukuoka Takuya2,Narazaki Tomoko1,Niizuma Yasuaki3,Sato Katsufumi1

Affiliation:

1. Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan

2. International Coastal Research Center, The University of Tokyo, 1-19-8 Akahama, Otsuchi, Iwate 028-1102, Japan

3. Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, 1-501 Shiogamaguchi, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 468-8502, Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Animals with high resting metabolic rates and low drag coefficients typically have fast optimal swim speeds in order to minimise energy costs per unit travel distance. The cruising swim speeds of sea turtles (0.5–0.6 m s−1) are slower than those of seabirds and marine mammals (1–2 m s−1). This study measured the resting metabolic rates and drag coefficients of sea turtles to answer two questions: (1) do turtles swim at the optimal swim speed?; and (2) what factors control the optimal swim speed of turtles? The resting metabolic rates of 13 loggerhead and 12 green turtles were measured; then, the cruising swim speeds of 15 loggerhead and 9 green turtles were measured and their drag coefficients were estimated under natural conditions. The measured cruising swim speeds (0.27–0.50 m s−1) agreed with predicted optimal swim speeds (0.19–0.32 m s−1). The resting metabolic rates of turtles were approximately one-twentieth those of penguins, and the products of the drag coefficient and frontal area of turtles were 8.6 times higher than those of penguins. Therefore, our results suggest that both low resting metabolic rate and high drag coefficient of turtles determine their slow cruising speed.

Funder

Tohoku Ecosystem-Associated Marine Science

Bio-Logging Science

University of Tokyo

Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science

Japan Science and Technology Agency Core

academist

Publisher

The Company of Biologists

Subject

Insect Science,Molecular Biology,Animal Science and Zoology,Aquatic Science,Physiology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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