Nesting ecology of solitary olive ridleys, Lepidochelys olivacea, within Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas

Tera C Dornfeld, Purdue University

Abstract

Olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) have been studied extensively with respect to their arribada nesting behavior but there is paucity of solitary nesting data and no solitary data for Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas (PNMB). This thesis commences the first-ever study of solitary nesting olive ridley turtles and was conducted within PNMB during October-March 2009-10 and June- March 2010-11. Nightly beach surveys were undertaken to quantify turtle emergences, internal nest temperatures were monitored to predict hatchling sex ratios and hatched nests were excavated. Turtle nests experienced high hatching success (82.1% during 2010-11) and low nest temperatures (average temperature during the critical period was 29.1°C) suggesting that mostly male hatchlings were produced. Data were then compared to olive ridley turtles nesting in arribadas, other solitary nesters and to leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting in PNMB. Most solitary olive ridley turtle nesting beaches had higher success and lower internal nest temperatures than arribada beaches. This thesis suggests that solitary nesting beaches may host populations separate from arribada beaches and are important sources of hatchling production for olive ridley turtles. If solitary and arribada nesting turtles are not separate populations, production of male hatchlings on solitary beaches may be another justification for maintenance of a dual nesting strategy.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Paladino, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Biology|Ecology

COinS