Mid-Incubation Relocation and Embryonic Survival in Loggerhead Sea Turtle Eggs

作者：Ahles Natasha; Milton Sarah L^*

来源：Journal of Wildlife Management, 2016, 80(3): 430-437.

DOI：10.1002/jwmg.1023

• beach renourishment
• embryonic development
• nest relocation
• sea turtle
• South Florida
• tropical storm

Relocations of sea turtle nests are generally performed within 12 hours of deposition to avoid damaging fragile respiratory membranes as they attach to the egg. In May 2007, a tropical storm on the east coast of Florida resulted in severe dune erosion and permission was given for beach and dune restoration. Nests already located on the beach, or that were laid prior to project commencement, were relocated at times varying between 10 days and 38 days post-deposition. This provided an opportunity to examine egg mortality in loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests moved during this critical time period, and determine whether there was a correlation between the relocation and the timing of arrested egg development; we compared hatching and emergence success to nests relocated during the standard initial 12 hours post-deposition and those left in situ. Following hatchling emergence, we collected remaining unhatched eggs to determine development stage at the time of embryonic death. Mean hatch success was 53% for nests moved mid-incubation, versus 79-90% for nests left in situ or moved within 12 hours of deposition. For 6 of 10 nests, embryonic development ceased at the same visual developmental stage as the relocation. Although moving nests later than 12 hours decreases nest success and should be a matter of last resort, the forecasts for increased storm activity and sea level rise, and other impacts such as beach oiling, may necessitate nest relocation under less than ideal circumstances. Choice of relocation site may also be significant; nests placed in native sand had lower emergence success than those moved to the renourished area.

• 出版日期2016-4