A review of the biology of the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, at five major nesting beaches on the south-western Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Turkozan O., Taskavak E., Ilgaz C.

HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL, cilt.13, sa.1, ss.27-33, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Cilt numarası: 13 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2003
  • Dergi Adı: HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.27-33
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Chelonia, egg, hatchling, nesting, predation
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Most nesting by loggerhead turtles in Turkey has been recorded at 20 sites along the Mediterranean coast. In addition, sites primarily used by green turtles are also used by loggerheads. The annual number of loggerhead nests recorded on these 20 beaches ranges from 663 to 1991, with a mean of 1267 nests per season. We review the biology of nesting and predation at five of the most important and more regularly investigated loggerhead nesting sites (Dalyan, Fethiye, Patara, Belek and Kizilot). These five beaches may host up to 920 nests per season. With approximately 307 adults per season, the Dalyan beach has the highest capacity in terms of numbers of nests and of nesting females. Hatching success at the five beaches was negatively affected by fox predation (93% of the predated eggs on the beaches), crab predation (29.5% of the predated hatchlings), and light-pollution (42% of the hatchlings). In addition, predation by beetle larvae has been observed on the eggs at Fethiye beach (17.6% of the predated eggs at this site).