Leatherback marine turtles are the largest extant turtles with some individuals measuring up to 2 m in carapace length. In addition, this species remains in oceanic habitat during much its life, making it difficult to investigate its ontogeny from hatchling to adult stage. Furthermore, distinct chondro-osseous (cartilage and bone) tissue morphology has led to speculation that sexual maturity may be reached as early as 3 years while others have estimated a minimum of 25 years to reach adulthood. Using a combination of reanalysis of the growth trajectories of juveniles maintained in captivity, and the age–size relationship of individuals in the field, we demonstrate and quantify the indeterminate growth of this species. Using comparisons of female size distribution on nesting beaches and stranded or captured-at-sea size distributions adjusted with a new asymmetric sigmoid function, we were able to model the size reaction norm for female sexual maturity. Combining these two models, we show that some females may reach maturity at 14 years in natural conditions, while others will take 50 years or more. Sexual maturity may even be reached at 5 years when individuals experience exceptionally good environmental conditions. This extreme plasticity in the age of sexual maturity has been demonstrated in loggerhead turtles in natural conditions and in green turtles in captivity. It may be a general life-history feature of marine turtles.

中文翻译：

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巨人的成熟：大西洋棱皮龟性成熟的年龄和大小反应标准

棱皮海龟是现存最大的海龟，有些个体的背甲长度可达 2 m。此外，该物种在其一生中的大部分时间都留在海洋栖息地，因此很难研究其从孵化到成年阶段的个体发育。此外，不同的软骨-骨（软骨和骨）组织形态导致人们猜测最早可能在 3 年达到性成熟，而其他人估计至少需要 25 年才能达到成年。结合对圈养幼鱼的生长轨迹的再分析，以及野外个体的年龄-大小关系，我们证明并量化了该物种的不确定生长。通过比较筑巢海滩上的雌性体型分布和用新的非对称 sigmoid 函数调整的搁浅或海上捕获体型分布，我们能够对雌性性成熟的体型反应规范进行建模。结合这两个模型，我们表明在自然条件下，一些雌性可能在 14 岁时达到成熟，而另一些则需要 50 年或更长时间。当个体经历异常良好的环境条件时，甚至可能在 5 岁时达到性成熟。这种性成熟年龄的极端可塑性已在自然条件下的红海龟和人工饲养的绿海龟中得到证明。这可能是海龟的一般生活史特征。我们表明，在自然条件下，一些雌性可能在 14 岁时达到成熟，而另一些则需要 50 年或更长时间。当个体经历异常良好的环境条件时，甚至可能在 5 岁时达到性成熟。这种性成熟年龄的极端可塑性已在自然条件下的红海龟和人工饲养的绿海龟中得到证明。这可能是海龟的一般生活史特征。我们表明，在自然条件下，一些雌性可能在 14 岁时达到成熟，而另一些则需要 50 年或更长时间。当个体经历异常良好的环境条件时，甚至可能在 5 岁时达到性成熟。这种性成熟年龄的极端可塑性已经在自然条件下的红海龟和圈养的绿海龟身上得到了证明。这可能是海龟的一般生活史特征。