Nesting preferences of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas L.) and the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata L.) in the SW of Mahe Island in the Seychelles-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Nesting preferences of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas L.) and the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata L.) in the SW of Mahe Island in the Seychelles

Published:2021-11-12 Issue: Volume: Page:23-31
ISSN:2014-928X
Container-title:Animal Biodiversity and Conservation
language:en
Short-container-title:Anim. Biodiv. Conserv.

Author:

Mata F.¹^ORCID,Mata P.²

Affiliation:

1. CISAS–Centre for Research and Development in Agri–food Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Portugal

2. Ruskin Mill College, Millbottom, Gloucestershire, UK

Abstract

Data concerning 212 turtles emerging on the southwest beaches of Mahe Island in the Seychelles were collected in 2017 and 2018. These data were used to model the probability of eggs being laid in relation to several variables. The probability of successful laying after emergence was highest on certain beaches and in areas of short vegetation, between open sand and trees. We found successful laying was related to the physical properties of the soil, indicating that survivability of embryos and hatchlings is higher in certain areas. The turtles appeared to choose zones where soil had low salinity, good drainage but ability to retain water, and absence of spring tides and extreme temperatures.

Publisher

Consorci del Museu de Ciencies Naturals de Barcelona

Subject

Nature and Landscape Conservation,Animal Science and Zoology

Reference40 articles.

1. Allen, Z. C., Shah, N. J., Grant, A., Derand, G., Bell, D., 2010. Hawksbill turtle monitoring in Cousin Island Special Reserve, Seychelles: an eight–fold increase in annual nesting numbers. Endangered Species Research, 11: 195–200.

2. Ackerman, R. A., 1997. The nest environment and the embryonic development of sea turtles. In: The Biology of Sea Turtles: 83–106 (P. L. Lutz, J. A. Musick). CRC Press, New York, USA.

3. Cheng, I. J., Huang, C. T., Hung, P. Y., Ke, B. Z., Kuo, C. W., Fong, C. L., 2009. Ten years of monitoring the nesting ecology of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, on Lanyu (Orchid Island), Taiwan. Zoological Studies, 48: 83–94.

4. Diamond, A. W., 1976. Breeding biology and conservation of hawksbill turtles Eretmochellys imbricata L., on Cousin Island, Seychelles. Biological Conservation, 9: 199–215.

5. Ditmer, M. A., Stapleton, S. P., 2012. Factors affecting hatch success of Hawksbill Sea Turtles on Long Island, Antigua, West Indies. Plos One, 7: e38472, Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038472