Browsing by Author "Cunha, Edilaine Cristina Bandeira"
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- Nesting habitat preferences and hatching success of green turtles, Chelonia mydas, in São Tomé Island, West AfricaPublication . Cunha, Edilaine Cristina Bandeira; Castilho, RitaFemale sea turtles need sandy beaches to develop and incubate their eggs and guarantee the next generation’s success. During the nesting process, the female becomes vulnerable to the environmental condition of the beach and predators. In addition, the location of the nests can affect the reproductive success and survival of their offspring. The present study conducted on Jalé beach in the south of São Tomé Island analysed the density and the distribution of Green turtle’s (Chelonia mydas) nests along the beach and the effects of site selection on hatching success. Habitat features (such as bathymetry and coastal habitat), moon phases and tides influence on female emergences were analysed. We found a positive correlation between some of these factors on Green turtle’s emergences. Green turtles nesting on Jalé beach also seemed to prefer to nest between the vegetation border and the open beach, avoiding the vegetation. In addition, it was verified if there was a pattern between the nest location and the distance to the high tide line. We observed a minimal distance between the nest and the high tide line, suggesting a small risk of the nests being washed by waves or loss by beach erosion caused by spring tides. No correlation was found between the microhabitats at the nest location and the hatching success. This study revealed that the main environmental factors that may influence Green turtles nesting site preferences, providing crucial information for future studies, better management related to climate change, and the rapid growth of tourism-related developments on the coast of Jalé beach.