Browsing by Author "Mangueira, Edson de Jesus Delgado"
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- Temporal variations in phenological patterns of olive ridley turtles (lepidochelys olivacea) in manono-bentiaba, AngolaPublication . Mangueira, Edson de Jesus Delgado; Baptista, Vânia; Gouvêa, Lidiane PiresSea turtles are migratory reptiles with a complex life cycle. Of the seven recorded species of sea turtles, three use Angolan waters: the leatherback, the green turtle and the olive ridley, which are confirmed as species that nest in Angola. Sea turtles play an important role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, as they are marine and terrestrial bioindicators, participate in food chains and energy transfer, and have sociocultural and economic value. The decline in the sea turtle population is a cause for concern for their conservation, since all species are on the Angolan red list of species. Threats from climatic factors (temperature, precipitation, humidity, erosion, flooding, disease) and anthropogenic pressures (hunting and egg collection, coastal occupation and development, habitat degradation and high-powered vessels in sensitive areas) can influence the decline of these populations. In this context, the present study aims to examine the phenological patterns of Lepidochelys olivacea in Angola, with a specific focus on the Bentiaba region from 2018 to 2022. The surveys were conducted between September and March from 2018 to 2019 and from 2021 to 2022. The results showed a total of 264 nests during this period with declines in nesting and consequently in turtle hatching from 2018 to 2022, with 133 nests in the 2018-2019 season and 131 nests in the 2021-2022 season. October and December of 2018, February and March of 2019, presented with the highest egg density, while February and March of 2022, presented with the lowest egg density. November and December of 2021, and February and March of 2022, were the months with the highest mortality rate. This study includes monitoring nesting sites where eggs are laid and inspected, providing a baseline for conservation to identify the main stages where declines in nests, eggs and neonates occur.