Satellite tracking highlights difficulties in the design of effective protected areas for Critically Endangered leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea during the inter-nesting period

AbstractNesting by marine turtles in the Caribbean has declined considerably, mainly because of human exploitation, but there has previously been no monitoring in the Dominican Republic. We present the first detailed assessment of the status of marine turtle nesting in the country, based on surveys during 2006–2010. Nesting populations of hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata and leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea are of regional importance and the green turtle Chelonia mydas is still present, although nesting in low numbers. The two main nesting sites are within protected areas: the Jaragua National Park in the south-west, important for leatherback turtles (mean of 126 nests per season), and Del Este National Park on Saona Island in the south-east, principally for hawksbill turtles (mean of 100 nests per season). Comparison with historical data suggests all rookeries are profoundly reduced in size. Although the main nesting beaches are within protected areas, illegal egg-take and meat consumption continues there, and also elsewhere in the country.

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Ecology and nest-site selection of leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea

Biological Conservation ◽

10.1016/0006-3207(83)90047-2 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 47-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

N. Mrosovsky

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Leatherback Turtles ◽

Selection Of

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Large-scale movements and high-use areas of western Pacific leatherback turtles,Dermochelys coriacea

Ecosphere ◽

10.1890/es11-00053.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2 (7) ◽

pp. art84 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Scott R. Benson ◽

Tomoharu Eguchi ◽

Dave G. Foley ◽

Karin A. Forney ◽

Helen Bailey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Western Pacific ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Leatherback Turtles

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Status of Marine Turtles in British Columbia Waters: A Reassessment

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v118i1.885 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 118 (1) ◽

pp. 72 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Donald F. McAlpine ◽

Stan A. Orchard ◽

Kelly A. Sendall ◽

Rod Palm

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Marine Environment ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Marine Turtle ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Concerted Effort ◽

Leatherback Turtles ◽

Marine Turtles ◽

Green Turtles

Marine turtles in British Columbia have previously been considered off course stragglers. Here we document 20 new reports for Green Turtles, Chelonia mydas, and Leatherback Turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, for the province. Until recently there had been no concerted effort to acquire data on marine turtle abundance or frequency off British Columbia. Observations presented here allow a reassessment of marine turtle status in British Columbia waters. We suggest Green Turtles and Leatherbacks should be considered rare vagrants and uncommon seasonal residents, respectively, off British Columbia and that they are a natural part of the British Columbia marine environment.

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Do leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea forage during the breeding season? A combination of data-logging devices provide new insights

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps322259 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 322 ◽

pp. 259-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

AE Myers ◽

GC Hays

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Data Logging ◽

Leatherback Turtles

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Correction: Novel Data on the Ecology of Cochranella mache (Anura: Centrolenidae) and the Importance of Protected Areas for This Critically Endangered Glassfrog in the Neotropics

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/annotation/3afad533-ccf9-4d29-83ea-e4eeae57203c ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade ◽

Octavio Rojas-Soto ◽

Christian Paucar

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Critically Endangered

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The Effects of Nest Location and Beach Environment on Hatching Success for Leatherback (Dermochelys Coriacea) and Green (Chelonia Mydas) Sea Turtles on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

10.21203/rs.3.rs-317848/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Callie A. Veelenturf ◽

Elizabeth M. Sinclair ◽

Peter Leopold ◽

Frank V. Paladino ◽

Shaya Honarvar

Keyword(s):

Green Turtle ◽

Hatching Success ◽

Sea Turtles ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Equatorial Guinea ◽

Leatherback Turtles ◽

Nest Location ◽

Bioko Island ◽

Elevation Range

Abstract Hatching success in sea turtles is hindered by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors. This study of the nesting ecology of leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles, investigated how several environmental factors and beach characteristics on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea influence sea turtle reproductive success. Average clutch hatching success was 40.4% for green turtles and 41.73% for leatherback turtles. For leatherback turtles, clutch elevation relative to the high tide line (HTL) was found to be the most influential factor in determining hatching success, highlighting the sensitivity of this species to sea level rise (SLR). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that nest distance to vegetation and sand conductivity also played significant roles in leatherback clutch hatching success. For leatherback clutches, 33% percent of experimental nests were affected by inundation and 17% by predation. An optimum clutch elevation range for leatherback turtles was identified, where a distinct increase in hatching success was observed between -0.286 m to -0.0528 m above the HTL. For green sea turtles, 64% of experimental nests were affected by predation, confounding conclusions about the roles of environmental characteristics in green turtle hatching success. We propose further investigation into influential characteristics in green turtle nests and confirmation of the observed optimum elevation range on Bioko Island and other nesting grounds. Identified sensitivities of each species to SLR and beach characteristics will be used to encourage the government of Equatorial Guinea to consider the vulnerability of their resident turtle populations when planning for future coastal development.

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