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Nesting success of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) on Cousine Island, Seychelles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2004

P. M. Hitchins ,
O. Bourquin  and
S. Hitchins
P. M. Hitchins
Affiliation:
P.O. Box 3708, Brits 0250, South Africa
O. Bourquin
Affiliation:
P.O. Box 1226, Columbus, 59019 MT, U.S.A.
S. Hitchins
Affiliation:
P.O. Box 3708, Brits 0250, South Africa
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Abstract

Nesting hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata were studied on Cousine Island, Seychelles from 1995 to 1999. Mean overall incubation time averaged 58.1 days. Clutch size did not influence incubation periods. Following hatching, hatchlings took an average of 3.8 days to leave the nest. Mean hatchling emergence time was 60.4 days. Hatching success averaged 64.3% for the four seasons. During 1996–97 there were heavy, unexplained egg losses due to crab predation. Excluding that season, average hatching success was 70.9%. Overall hatchling success was 61.1%, translocated nests having a better success (69.3%) than natural nests (57.7%). Overall egg and hatchling losses were 35.8% and 3.1%, respectively, most egg losses being attributed to ghost crabs Ocypode cordimana (16.3% overall) and unknown causes (17.0% overall), which were mainly non-viable eggs. The high level of nest manipulation was believed to be justified by increasing the number of hatchlings entering the sea.

Keywords

Reptiliamarine turtlesEretmochelys imbricatabreedingeggshatchlingsnest translocationsCousine IslandSeychelles
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 264 , Issue 4 , December 2004 , pp. 383 - 389
Copyright
© 2004 The Zoological Society of London

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