Nesting of Caretta caretta in Tuscany area (north-western Mediterranean Sea): insights of a recent colonisation phenomenon

Abstract

From 2013 to 2021 twenty-three Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle) nests were found along the coast of Tuscany (Italy, north-western Mediterranean Sea). Loggerhead nesting is a new event for this part of the Mediterranean Sea, which occurred only recently. Laid eggs were 2081 with 943 hatchlings, for an average hatching success of 45.31%, ranging from 0.1 to 95%, depending on the year and the site. After hatching, nest inspection was carried out and, when possible, eggs and hatchlings (dead and alive) were measured (e.g. curved carapace length with calipers in mm, body mass, with an electronic balance in grams) and standard environmental parameters at the nests were registered (e.g. nest chamber depth and width, grain size, sand temperature). We strongly recommend accurate monitoring and observations of the beaches along these coastlines to establish other nesting occurrences of loggerhead turtles in this region. Keywords: loggerhead turtle, reproduction, clutch size, Tyrrhenian Sea