The Herpetological Journal

pp.27-33 

Authors: Oguz Türkozan, Ertan Tas Kavak And Çetin Ilgaz

Abstract: Most nesting by loggerhead turtles in Turkey has been recorded at 20 sites along the Mediterranean coast. In addition, sites primarily used by green turtles are also used by loggerheads. The annual number of loggerhead nests recorded on these 20 beaches ranges from 663 to 1 991, with a mean of 1 267 nests per season. We review the biology of nesting and predation at five of the most important and more regularly investigated loggerhead nesting sites (Dalyan, Fethiye, Patara, Belek and Kizilot). These five beaches may host up to 920 nests per season. With approximately 307 adults per season, the Dalyan beach has the highest capacity in terms of numbers of nests and of nesting females. Hatching success at the five beaches was negatively affected by fox predation (93% of the predated eggs on the beaches), crab predation (29.5% of the predated hatchlings), and light-pollution (42% of the hatchlings). In addition, predation by beetle larvae has been observed on the eggs at Fethiye beach ( 1 7.6% of the predated eggs at this site).

Keywords: Chelonia, egg, hatchling, nesting, predation