Monitoring and conservation of Loggerhead Turtle's nests on Fethiye Beaches, Turkey

Abstract

Fethiye beaches are the one of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches from Turkey. The reproductive biology of nesting loggerhead turtles was investigated there during three consecutive nesting seasons (2011-2013). A total of 253 nests were recorded in three seasons, and these nests included an average 80.4 eggs per nests. The incubation periods have decreased considerably over the last decade, potentially pointing to a climate change effect. The nest density was 7.2 nests/km in 2011, 10.7 nests/km in 2012 and 12.6 nests/km in 2013. Despite this 3-year increase, the overall number of nests over the last two decades shows a gradual decline, although the pattern differs from beach to beach. It was determined that the habitat loss and tourism activities are the main problems and are effect breeding activities of the species. In this respect, site-specific conservation actions were started at the Fethiye beaches. ©Biharean Biologist, 2016.