BODY-ORGAN WEIGHT RELATIONSHIPS OF STRANDED LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES, CARETTA CARETTA, WITH AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT CAUSING THEIR DEMISE

摘要

Fifty-four freshly stranded adult female loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) on the North Carolina coast near Morehead City were necropsied in 1979, 1980, and 1981. Body-organ weight relationships were highly correlated in 1979 and 1981 while turtles in 1980, appearing unaffected, were greatly emaciated. Examination of ocean water temperatures, chlorophyll a levels plus the effects of El Nino and La Nina year effects were better indicators of loggerhead deaths than External visual appearances. Changes in fish abundances and catches were also Affected during the same three years. One should not blindly blame all deaths and Strandings of loggerhead sea turtles the result of commercial fisheries efforts as The environment can play a large role in their demise.