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The damage caused by some invertebrates to the eggs and hatchlings of loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, was investigated during the summer of 2002 on Dalaman beach, Turkey. The specimens, identified to family or genus levels, from nine families representing seven orders were recorded as infesting nests of loggerhead turtles. The heaviest impacts...
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Marine turtles in the western Pacific remain threatened by anthropogenic impacts, but the region lacks long-term biological data for assessing conservation status and trends. The Central West Pacific (CWP) population of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) was listed as Endangered by the U.S. in 2016, highlighting a need to fill existing data gaps. This...
Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting in the Southwest Atlantic has been monitored for decades, but information from northern Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil) has been lacking until now. In this study, we documented 11,086 nests laid between the 1992/1993 and 2010/2011 nesting seasons (similar to 1000 nests per season) and found significant vari...
The damage caused by some invertebrates to the eggs and hatchlings of loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, was investigated during the summer of 2002 on Dalaman beach, Turkey. The specimens, identified to family or genus levels, from nine families representing seven orders were recorded as infesting nests of loggerhead turtles. The heaviest impacts...
ContextMarine turtle eggs incubate in dynamic beaches, where they are vulnerable to both saltwater and freshwater flooding. Understanding the capacity for marine turtle eggs to tolerate flooding will aid management efforts to predict and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise and increases in coastal flooding. AimsEvaluate...
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... A comparatively small proportion of nutrients (~ 13 vs 34%) is likely available to dune vegetation and decomposers through plant roots that commonly invade turtle nests (Conrad et al. 2011;Read et al. 2019). The seasonal availability of sea turtle eggs is also likely to drive short-term responses in invertebrate communities, with exponential increases in meiofauna (nematodes, halacarid mites, springtails) observed at nests with decomposing eggs (Diane et al. 2017), and infestations of predatory dipteran and coleopteran larvae (Baena et al. 2015;Hall and Parmenter 2008;Katılmış et al. 2006;Ozdemir et al. 2004) and ants (Allen et al. 2001;Buhlman and Coffman 2001;Wetterer et al. 2007). Turtle nesting is therefore likely to play an important ecological role in the structuring of invertebrate communities in sandy beach ecosystems (Diane et al. 2017). ...
Ghost crabs can be abundant at beaches where sea turtles nest, but the food web dynamics are poorly understood. Using multiple dietary methods, our research aimed to characterise the diet of the golden ghost crab Ocypode convexa at rookeries of the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta on the west coast of Australia, with a focus on determining the importance of sea turtle eggs and hatchlings to its diet. We achieved this through combining complementary methods: gut content analysis (GCA); DNA analysis of gut contents; stable isotope analysis (SIA); and controlled feeding experiments. GCA showed that O. convexa is a facultative scavenger with an omnivorous diet comprising high contributions (> 55%) of abundant beach-cast leafy brown algae. However, DNA analysis identified C. caretta in ≥ 20% of crab guts, and stable isotope mixing models suggested that sea turtle contributed 40–62% of assimilated C and N for male and 21–40% for female ghost crabs during the nesting season, while other animal and algal sources were also likely to be consumed when sea turtle eggs and hatchlings were absent or present. Aquarium-based feeding assays showed that ghost crabs prefer sea turtle and fish carrion over leafy brown algae (0.81 vs 0.10 vs 0.03 g/h consumed). Sea turtles provide large amounts of nutrients to consumers in the form of eggs and hatchlings, and golden ghost crabs benefit substantially from this pulsed resource along the Ningaloo coast, a World Heritage Area. Through the combined use of SIA, GCA, DNA, and feeding trials, this study highlights the important roles of both sea turtles and ghost crabs in energy fluxes and nutrient cycling at generally nutrient-poor sandy beach ecosystems. However, high consumption rates in the region can possibly put the long-term survival of the C. caretta population at risk.
... In Northern Cyprus, different types of insect groups (Diptera: Sarcophagidae and Phoridae; Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) infesting marine turtle eggs were recorded by Broderick & Hancock (1997), and 11 dipteran species (Sarcophagidae and Phoridae) were reported by McGowan et al. (2001a), and in Laganas Bay (Zakynthos, Greece), some invertebrate groups were observed in infested nests by Andrews et al. (2016). In addition, a number of studies have reported invertebrate infestation in loggerhead turtle nests on several beaches on the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye ( Figure 1): Fethiye (Türkozan & Baran 1996, Türkozan 2000, Baran et al. 2001, Özdemir et al. 2006, Kızılot (Türkozan 2000), Dalaman (Katılmış et al. 2006), Dalyan İztuzu (Urhan et al. 2010), Alata (Aymak et al. 2017). Aymak et al. (2017Aymak et al. ( , 2020 reported infestations in green turtle nests on Kazanlı beach. ...
... According to this model, the most important explanatory factors affecting invertebrate presence in loggerhead turtle nests are NUE and DNV, while in green turtle nests, these are DWE and HSR (Table 2). Baran et al. 2001, Özdemir et al. 2004, Katılmış et al. 2006, Urhan et al. 2010. However, on the other beaches, there were also records of loggerhead nests infested with Nematoda, Mesostigmata (Acari), Araneidae (Araneae), and Sphecidae (Hymenoptera), which were not recorded in loggerhead or green turtle nests on Alata beach. ...
... Other researchers have also evaluated nest parameters regarding invertebrate species' presence or absence in loggerhead turtle nests in Türkiye. The loggerhead nests close to vegetation had more insects than those further away (Katılmış et al. 2006). When all insect groups were combined as invertebrates, sand grain size and distance from low vegetation were the variables in the model that was most clearly negatively correlated with invertebrates, but smaller nest diameters attracted more invertebrates to the nests (Özdemir et al. 2004). ...
... In Northern Cyprus in the Mediterranean, different kinds of insect groups (Diptera: Sarcophagidae and Phoridae, Hymenoptera: Chalicidae) infesting marine turtle eggs were reported by Broderick and Hancock (1997) and eleven dipteran species (Sarcophagidae and Phoridae) were recorded in turtle nests by McGowan et al. (2001a). In addition, in Turkey, researchers recorded some invertebrate infestation in loggerhead turtle nests (Türkozan and Baran, 1996;Türkozan, 2000;Baran et al., 2001;Katýlmýþ et al., 2006;Katýlmýþ and Urhan, 2007;Özdemir et al., 2004, 2006Urhan et al., 2010;Aymak et al., 2017) and in green turtle nests (Aymak et al., 2017) on nesting areas. ...
... Nest site factors influencing marine turtles' nest, which include location with respect to vegetation and high water mark, nest depth and humidity, temperature, sand type and compactness have been considered in various studies (Hays and Speakman, 1993;Hays et al., 1995;Wood and Bjorndal, 2000;Stoneburner and Richardson, 1981;Foote and Sprinkel, 1994;Mortimer, 1995;Cardinal et al., 1998). Researchers investigated some nest parameters that might affect on sea turtle nests to insect infestation: in loggerhead turtle nests, at Fethiye and Dalaman Beaches, in Turkey (Özdemir et al., 2004;Özdemir et al., 2006;Katýlmýþ et al., 2006;Katýlmýþ and Urhan, 2007), in Northern Cyprus (McGowan et al., 2001b) and in Laganas Bay (Zakynthos), Greece (Andrews et al., 2016) and also in hawksbill turtle nests, in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (Silva et al., 2016). These researchers noted that variables like grain size, distance of nest to vegetation, distance of nest to high water mark, nest depth, nest diameters, clutch size, number of non-viable eggs, number of infested eggs, number of dead (hatchlings + embryos) per nest, hatchling emergence duration, the difference between natural and transplanted nests of loggerhead turtle nests in Turkey, in Northern Cyprus and in Greece and distance of nest to vegetation of hawksbill sea turtle in Brazil significantly influenced infestation of invertebrates. ...
... According to the Logistic Regression Analysis, hatching success rate was negatively related to the presence of invertebrate species (Table 4). Katýlmýþ et al., 2006;Urhan et al., 2010). The green turtle is mostly confined to the eastern beaches and there are also sporadic nesting records from the western Mediterranean coasts of Turkey (Türkozan and Kaska, 2010). ...
In this study invertebrate infestation in green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests were recorded for the first time for Kazanlı beach, Mersin, Turkey. For this aim, in 2006 nesting season, 294 natural intact green turtle nests were sampled to examine their contents and invertebrate infestation was found in 76 (25.85% of the total sampling green turtle nests). These infested nests were examined in terms of the invertebrate faunal composition. The specimens found in the green sea turtle nests were identified to order, family or genus levels and they were represented in 5 orders. These invertebrate groups are Elater sp. larvae (Elateridae; Coleoptera), Pimelia sp. larvae (Tenebrionidae; Coleoptera), Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta), Cyrptostigmata (Acari), Oniscidae (Isopoda), Formicidae (Hymenoptera). Elater sp. was the most common invertebrate group in the green turtle nests. According to student t test, we found statistically significant differences between 7 independent variables and invertebrate species presence. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis explained that there is a negative relationship between hatching success rate and invertebrate species presence.
... Nest site selection and the excavation, and refilling of the egg chamber, are probably crucial to the reproductive success of sea turtles given the vagaries of weather and wave action [4], the need for suitable egg incubation conditions [5][6][7] and the escape of hatchlings to the surface [8]. Buried sea turtle egg clutches are also vulnerable to a range of predators [9,10] and dipteran parasite attack [11][12][13], with nest predation rates of more than 50% occurring on some beaches [14][15][16]. The mitigation of these risks is the most commonly presumed reason for the prolonged sand-scattering phase of nesting that follows completion of egg chamber refilling [3,17,18]. ...
After laying their eggs and refilling the egg chamber, sea turtles scatter sand extensively around the nest site. This is presumed to camouflage the nest, or optimize local conditions for egg development, but a consensus on its function is lacking. We quantified activity and mapped the movements of hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles during sand-scattering. For leatherbacks, we also recorded activity at each sand-scattering position. For hawksbills, we recorded breathing rates during nesting as an indicator of metabolic investment and compared with published values for leatherbacks. Temporal and inferred metabolic investment in sand-scattering was substantial for both species. Neither species remained near the nest while sand-scattering, instead moving to several other positions to scatter sand, changing direction each time, progressively displacing themselves from the nest site. Movement patterns were highly diverse between individuals, but activity at each sand-scattering position changed little between completion of egg chamber refilling and return to the sea. Our findings are inconsistent with sand-scattering being to directly camouflage the nest, or primarily for modifying the nest-proximal environment. Instead, they are consistent with the construction of a series of dispersed decoy nests that may reduce the discovery of nests by predators.
... In Bijagos Archipelago (Guinea-Bissau), ghost crabs only predated the 1% of green turtle nests (Catry et al. 2002). In Turkey, insects from nine families and seven different orders have been detected, being the tenebrionid Pimelia sp. the most common one, which affected 36% of the clutches (Katılmış et al. 2006). In Cyprus, larvae of dipterans have been found in 15% of the clutches studied. ...
Egg mortality is one of the main factors affecting life history and conservation of oviparous species. A massive and cryptic colonisation of many leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs is presented in the most important rookery for the species in Gabon. A total of 163 nests were exhumed at Kingere beach, revealing that only 16.7% of eggs produced hatchlings. In the 59% of the nests, more than half of the eggs were dead and attacked by invertebrates and 94% had at least one egg affected by invertebrates. The rate of eggs and SAGs (yolkless eggs) affected by invertebrates within a clutch ranged from 0% to 100%, with an average proportion of 39% and 52%, respectively. The most common invertebrates interacting with the eggs were ghost crabs and insects that affected 51% and 82% of the nests, respectively. Crab and insect co-occurred in 33% of the affected nests. Ants, identified as Dorylus spininodis (Emery 1901) were found in 56% of the excavated nests. However, it was not possible to determine if the ants predated alive eggs or sca-venged dead eggs. Very often, hundreds of ants were found dead within dead eggs. Termites and other invertebrates were associated with the clutch environment and identified as opportunistic feeders. An unusual ecological interaction within the leatherback clutches between termites and ants was found in 11% of the nests. The abrupt transition between the soil forest and the beach might be favouring a thriving microbial and invertebrate activity in the sand profile that colonises the nests.
... Another problem recorded from certain loggerhead nesting beaches is invertebrate infestation of eggs (Broderick & Hancock 1997, McGowan et al. 2001, Türkozan et al. 2003, Katılmış et al. 2006, Andrews et al. 2016, Aymak et al. 2017 (Casale et al. 2000, Godley et al. 2001a,b, Kaska et al. 2006, Zbinden et al. 2007a, Katselidis et al. 2012. In a context of global warming, even more femalebiased hatchling sex ratios may be produced. ...
The available information regarding the 2 sea turtle species breeding in the Mediter-ranean (loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta and green turtle Chelonia mydas) is reviewed, including biometrics and morphology, identification of breeding and foraging areas, ecology and behaviour, abundance and trends, population structure and dynamics, anthropogenic threats and conserva-tion measures. Although a large body of knowledge has been generated, research efforts have been inconsistently allocated across geographic areas, species and topics. Significant gaps still exist, ranging from the most fundamental aspects, such as the distribution of major nesting sites and the total number of clutches laid annually in the region, to more specific topics like age at maturity, survival rates and behavioural ecology, especially for certain areas (e.g. south-eastern Mediterranean). These gaps are particularly marked for the green turtle. The recent positive trends of nest counts at some nesting sites may be the result of the cessation of past exploitation and decades of conservation measures on land, both in the form of national regulations and of con-tinued active protection of clutches. Therefore, the current status should be considered as depend-ent on such ongoing conservation efforts. Mitigation of incidental catch in fisheries, the main anthropogenic threat at sea, is still in its infancy. From the analysis of the present status a compre-hensive list of re search and conservation priorities is proposed.
... Another problem recorded from certain loggerhead nesting beaches is invertebrate infestation of eggs (Broderick & Hancock 1997, McGowan et al. 2001, Türkozan et al. 2003, Katılmış et al. 2006, Andrews et al. 2016, Aymak et al. 2017 (Casale et al. 2000, Godley et al. 2001a,b, Kaska et al. 2006, Zbinden et al. 2007a, Katselidis et al. 2012. In a context of global warming, even more femalebiased hatchling sex ratios may be produced. ...
ABSTRACT: The available information regarding the 2 sea turtle species breeding in the Mediterranean
(loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta and green turtle Chelonia mydas) is reviewed, including
biometrics and morphology, identification of breeding and foraging areas, ecology and behaviour,
abundance and trends, population structure and dynamics, anthropogenic threats and conservation
measures. Although a large body of knowledge has been generated, research efforts have
been inconsistently allocated across geographic areas, species and topics. Significant gaps still
exist, ranging from the most fundamental aspects, such as the distribution of major nesting sites
and the total number of clutches laid annually in the region, to more specific topics like age at
maturity, survival rates and behavioural ecology, especially for certain areas (e.g. south-eastern
Mediterranean). These gaps are particularly marked for the green turtle. The recent positive
trends of nest counts at some nesting sites may be the result of the cessation of past exploitation
and decades of conservation measures on land, both in the form of national regulations and of continued
active protection of clutches. Therefore, the current status should be considered as dependent
on such ongoing conservation efforts. Mitigation of incidental catch in fisheries, the main
anthropogenic threat at sea, is still in its infancy. From the analysis of the present status a comprehensive
list of re search and conservation priorities is proposed.
... Pimelia sp. (Tenebrionidae) and Muscidae larvae were found in loggerhead turtle nests on Dalaman beach (Katılmış et al., 2006). The depth of the egg chamber was found to be the most significant factor for Dipteran infestation on loggerhead turtle eggs (McGowan et al., 2001b;Katılmış and Urhan, 2007a). ...
... Researchers recorded some invertebrate infestation in loggerhead turtle nests in Turkey. Nematoda, Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta), Oniscidae (Isopoda), Mesostigmat (Acari), Cryptostigmata (Acari), Araneidae (Arenea), Sphecidae (Hymenoptera), Elateridae larvae (Coleoptera), Scarabeidae larvae (Coleoptera), Muscidae larvae (Diptera), Myrmeleontidae larvae (Neuroptera), and Tenebrionidae larvae (Coleoptera) individuals were recorded infesting loggerhead turtle nests on Fethiye, Kızılot, Dalaman, and Dalyan İztuzu beaches in Turkey (Türkozan and Baran, 1996;Türkozan, 2000;Baran et al., 2001;Özdemir et al., 2004Katılmış et al., 2006;Urhan et al., 2010). In Northern Cyprus, Broderick and Hancock (1997) reported that nests of both species of turtles were infested by Sarcophagidae (Diptera) and Phoridae (Diptera) was reared from a C. caretta nest. ...
... Mixposition of (p.; e. and mus.) (Katılmış, 2004;Katılmış et al., 2006). On Dalyan İztuzu beach, Urhan et al. (2010) stated that 18.3% of nests were infested by Muscidae larvae and 13.3% by Pimelia larvae. ...
Invertebrate infestation in sea turtle nests (Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas) was recorded for the first time for Alata beach, Mersin, Turkey. A total of 121 green and 32 loggerhead nests were recorded and 34 (22.22%) of these were examined in terms of the invertebrate faunal composition. The specimens found in the nests were identified to order, family, or genus levels and they were represented as 5 orders. These invertebrate groups are Pimelia sp. larvae (Tenebrionidae; Coleoptera), Elater sp. larvae (Elateridae; Coleoptera), Scarabaeidae larvae (Coleoptera), Muscidae (Diptera), Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta), Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera), and Cyrptostigmata (Acari).
... The hawksbill turtle is listed as critically endangered, both in Brazil (Ministério do Meio Ambiente 2008) and worldwide (International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] 2012). This reinforces the need to understand the life cycle of this species, in particular the ecological conditions that determine its embryonic development (nests), to inform conservation planning (Katilmis et al. 2006). During incubation, the eggs of sea turtles are vulnerable to a diversity of predators including armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) (Drennen et al. 1989), crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) (Whiting and Whiting 2011), mongooses (Herpestes javanicus) (Leighton et al. 2011), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (Yerli et al. 1997) as well as to infestation by invertebrates such as insects of the orders Orthoptera (Maros et al. 2005), Diptera (Vogt 1981;Broderick and Hancock 1997;McGowan et al. 2001;Hall and Parmenter 2006;Katilmis et al. 2006;Bolton et al. 2008), Hymenoptera (Parris et al. 2002), and Coleoptera (Donlan et al. 2004;Katilmis et al. 2006). ...
... This reinforces the need to understand the life cycle of this species, in particular the ecological conditions that determine its embryonic development (nests), to inform conservation planning (Katilmis et al. 2006). During incubation, the eggs of sea turtles are vulnerable to a diversity of predators including armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) (Drennen et al. 1989), crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) (Whiting and Whiting 2011), mongooses (Herpestes javanicus) (Leighton et al. 2011), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (Yerli et al. 1997) as well as to infestation by invertebrates such as insects of the orders Orthoptera (Maros et al. 2005), Diptera (Vogt 1981;Broderick and Hancock 1997;McGowan et al. 2001;Hall and Parmenter 2006;Katilmis et al. 2006;Bolton et al. 2008), Hymenoptera (Parris et al. 2002), and Coleoptera (Donlan et al. 2004;Katilmis et al. 2006). During egg laying, cloacal excretions as well as the eggs themselves may attract many insects (Bolton et al. 2008). ...
... This reinforces the need to understand the life cycle of this species, in particular the ecological conditions that determine its embryonic development (nests), to inform conservation planning (Katilmis et al. 2006). During incubation, the eggs of sea turtles are vulnerable to a diversity of predators including armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) (Drennen et al. 1989), crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) (Whiting and Whiting 2011), mongooses (Herpestes javanicus) (Leighton et al. 2011), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (Yerli et al. 1997) as well as to infestation by invertebrates such as insects of the orders Orthoptera (Maros et al. 2005), Diptera (Vogt 1981;Broderick and Hancock 1997;McGowan et al. 2001;Hall and Parmenter 2006;Katilmis et al. 2006;Bolton et al. 2008), Hymenoptera (Parris et al. 2002), and Coleoptera (Donlan et al. 2004;Katilmis et al. 2006). During egg laying, cloacal excretions as well as the eggs themselves may attract many insects (Bolton et al. 2008). ...
We describe infestation of hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nests by insects on Pipa beach in the municipality of Tibaudo Sul, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil in January and June 2011. The mean number of live hatchlings (83.96 ± 43.31) was higher in nests unassociated with vegetation, although it is important to consider that a number of parameters other than proximity to vegetation may also affect nest success.
... They tend to nest on highly dynamic beaches, some with considerable changes in tide and erosion levels (Eckert, 1987), and may move between different beaches within and between nesting seasons (Pritchard, 1982;Whitmore, & Dutton, 1985;Runemark, 2006). Adequate nest site selection is a balance between nesting too close to the high tide line, risking nests being washed out (Runemark, 2006), and nesting too close to the vegetation, risking invasion by roots, predation, and possible hatchling disorientation due to artificial lighting on some beaches (Caut, Guirlet, Jouquet, & Girondot, 2006;Katilimis, Urhan, Kaska, & Baskale, 2006;Runemark, 2006). ...
... with those of nesting too close to the vegetation. According to several authors (Caut et al., 2006;Katilimis et al., 2006;Mrosovsky, 2006;Runemark, 2006), this area may be preferred due to its optimal humidity and temperature conditions, though the present study did not find higher hatching or emergence success in this zone. Further studies should compare the physical and chemical characteristics of this part of the beach to determine why it is preferred. ...
Nest site selection for individual leatherback sea turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, is a matter of dispute. Some authors suggest that a female will tend to randomly scatter her nests to optimize clutch survival at a highly dynamic beach, while others suggest that some site fidelity exists. It is also possible that both strategies exist, depending on the characteristics of each nesting beach, with stable beaches leading to repeating nest site selections and unstable beaches leading to nest scattering. To determine the strategy of the Tortuguero population of D. coriacea, female site preference and repetition were determined by studying whether females repeat their nest zone choices between successive attempts and whether this leads to a correlation in hatching and emergence success of subsequent nests. Nesting data from 1997 to 2008 were used. Perpendicular to the coastline, open sand was preferred in general, regardless of initial choice. This shows a tendency to scatter nests and is consistent with the fact that all vertical zones had a high variability in hatching and emergence success. It is also consistent with nest success not being easily predictable, as shown by the lack of correlation in success of subsequent nesting attempts. Along the coastline, turtles showed a preference for the middle part of the studied section of beach, both at a population level and as a tendency to repeat their initial choice. Interestingly, this zone has the most artificial lights, which leads to slightly lower nest success (though not significantly so) and hatchling disorientation. This finding merits further study for a possibly maladaptive trait and shows the need for increased control of artificial nesting on this beach.
