Olive ridley blood volume by nesting strategy

Sea turtles dive with a full lung of air and these O2 stores are
supplemented by O2 stored in blood and muscle.  Olive ridley sea
turtles exhibit polymorphic nesting behavior; mass nesting behavior called
arribada, where up to 25,000 turtles will nest at once, and solitary
nesting behavior. The potential physiological differences between the
individuals using these strategies are not well understood. We measured
blood volume and associated variables, including blood hemoglobin content
and hematocrit, to estimate total blood O2 stores. There were no
significant differences in mean values between nesting strategies, but
arribada nesting individuals were more variable than those performing
solitary nesting. Mass specific plasma volume was relatively invariant
among individuals but mass specific blood volume and blood oxygen stores
varied widely, 2-fold and 3-fold, respectively.  Blood O2 stores
represented 32% of total body O2 stores. Under typical mean diving
conditions of 26°C and high levels of activity, blood stores confer ~14
min to aerobic dive times and are likely critical for the long duration,
deep diving exhibited by the species. Individual differences in blood O2
stores strongly impact estimated aerobic dive limits and may constrain the
ability of individuals to respond to changes on ocean climate.