Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba

The nesting colony of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Guanahacabibes Peninsula Biosphere Reserve and National Park is one of the largest in the Cuban archipelago; however, little information about its nesting ecology is available. Temporal and spatial variation in nesting and reproductive succ...

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Autores: Azanza Ricardo, Julia, Ibarra Martín, María E., González Sansón, Gaspar, Abreu Grobois, F. Alberto, Eckert, Karen L., Espinosa López, Georgina, Oyama, Ken
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:Costa Rica
Institución:Universidad de Costa Rica
Repositorio:Portal de Revistas UCR
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:portal.ucr.ac.cr:article/12869
Acceso en línea:https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/12869
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:green turtle
nesting ecology
reproductive success
cuba
tortuga verde
ecología
anidación
éxito reproductivo
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oai_identifier_str oai:portal.ucr.ac.cr:article/12869
network_acronym_str CR
network_name_str Costa Rica
repository_id_str
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
title Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
spellingShingle Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
Azanza Ricardo, Julia
green turtle
nesting ecology
reproductive success
cuba
tortuga verde
ecología
anidación
éxito reproductivo
cuba
title_short Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
title_full Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
title_fullStr Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
title_full_unstemmed Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
title_sort Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Azanza Ricardo, Julia
Ibarra Martín, María E.
González Sansón, Gaspar
Abreu Grobois, F. Alberto
Eckert, Karen L.
Espinosa López, Georgina
Oyama, Ken
author Azanza Ricardo, Julia
author_facet Azanza Ricardo, Julia
Ibarra Martín, María E.
González Sansón, Gaspar
Abreu Grobois, F. Alberto
Eckert, Karen L.
Espinosa López, Georgina
Oyama, Ken
author_role author
author2 Ibarra Martín, María E.
González Sansón, Gaspar
Abreu Grobois, F. Alberto
Eckert, Karen L.
Espinosa López, Georgina
Oyama, Ken
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv green turtle
nesting ecology
reproductive success
cuba
tortuga verde
ecología
anidación
éxito reproductivo
cuba
topic green turtle
nesting ecology
reproductive success
cuba
tortuga verde
ecología
anidación
éxito reproductivo
cuba
description The nesting colony of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Guanahacabibes Peninsula Biosphere Reserve and National Park is one of the largest in the Cuban archipelago; however, little information about its nesting ecology is available. Temporal and spatial variation in nesting and reproductive success as well as morphometric characteristics of gravid females were used to ecologically characterize this colony. Nine beaches of the Southernmost coast of Guanahacabibes Peninsula were monitored for 14 years (1998-2012) to determine green turtle nesting activity, from May to September (peak nesting season in this area). Beach dimensions were measured to determine nest density using the length and the area. Afterward the beaches were divided in two categories, index and secondary. Females were measured and tagged to compare new tagged females (823) with returning tagged females (140). Remigration interval was also determined. Temporal variation was identified as the annual number of nesting emergences and oviposits per female, with apparent peaks in reproductive activity on a biennial cycle in the first six years followed by periods of annual increase in nest number (2003-2008) and periods of decreasing number of nests (2010-2012). We also found intra-seasonal variation with the highest nesting activity in July, particularly in the second half of the month. The peak emergence time was 22:00-02:00hr. In terms of spatial variation, smaller beaches had the highest nest density and nesting was more frequent 6-9m from the high tide line, where hatchling production was maximized although hatchling success was high on average, above 80%. Morphometric analysis of females was made and newly tagged turtles were smaller on average than remigrants. Our results are only a first attempt at characterizing Guanahacabibes’ populations but have great value for establishing conservation priorities within the context of national management plans, and for efficient monitoring and protection of nesting beaches.
publishDate 2013
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2013-12-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
artículo original
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_2df8fbb1
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/12869
10.15517/rbt.v61i4.12869
url https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/12869
identifier_str_mv 10.15517/rbt.v61i4.12869
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/12869/12126
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv Derechos de autor 2013 Revista de Biología Tropical
acceso abierto
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv Derechos de autor 2013 Revista de Biología Tropical
acceso abierto
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Universidad de Costa Rica
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Universidad de Costa Rica
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Revista de Biología Tropical; Vol. 61 No. 4 (2013): Volume 61 – Regular number 4 – December 2013; 1935–1945
Revista de Biología Tropical; Vol. 61 Núm. 4 (2013): Volumen 61 – Número regular 4 – Diciembre 2013; 1935–1945
Revista Biología Tropical; Vol. 61 N.º 4 (2013): Volumen 61 – Número regular 4 – Diciembre 2013; 1935–1945
2215-2075
0034-7744
10.15517/rbt.v61i4
reponame:Portal de Revistas UCR
instname:Universidad de Costa Rica
instacron:UCR
instname_str Universidad de Costa Rica
instacron_str UCR
institution UCR
reponame_str Portal de Revistas UCR
collection Portal de Revistas UCR
repository.name.fl_str_mv Portal de Revistas UCR - Universidad de Costa Rica
repository.mail.fl_str_mv jorge.polanco@ucr.ac.cr
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spelling Nesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, CubaNesting ecology of Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, CubaAzanza Ricardo, JuliaIbarra Martín, María E.González Sansón, GasparAbreu Grobois, F. AlbertoEckert, Karen L.Espinosa López, GeorginaOyama, Kengreen turtlenesting ecologyreproductive successcubatortuga verdeecologíaanidaciónéxito reproductivocubaThe nesting colony of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Guanahacabibes Peninsula Biosphere Reserve and National Park is one of the largest in the Cuban archipelago; however, little information about its nesting ecology is available. Temporal and spatial variation in nesting and reproductive success as well as morphometric characteristics of gravid females were used to ecologically characterize this colony. Nine beaches of the Southernmost coast of Guanahacabibes Peninsula were monitored for 14 years (1998-2012) to determine green turtle nesting activity, from May to September (peak nesting season in this area). Beach dimensions were measured to determine nest density using the length and the area. Afterward the beaches were divided in two categories, index and secondary. Females were measured and tagged to compare new tagged females (823) with returning tagged females (140). Remigration interval was also determined. Temporal variation was identified as the annual number of nesting emergences and oviposits per female, with apparent peaks in reproductive activity on a biennial cycle in the first six years followed by periods of annual increase in nest number (2003-2008) and periods of decreasing number of nests (2010-2012). We also found intra-seasonal variation with the highest nesting activity in July, particularly in the second half of the month. The peak emergence time was 22:00-02:00hr. In terms of spatial variation, smaller beaches had the highest nest density and nesting was more frequent 6-9m from the high tide line, where hatchling production was maximized although hatchling success was high on average, above 80%. Morphometric analysis of females was made and newly tagged turtles were smaller on average than remigrants. Our results are only a first attempt at characterizing Guanahacabibes’ populations but have great value for establishing conservation priorities within the context of national management plans, and for efficient monitoring and protection of nesting beaches.La colonia de Tortuga verde (Chelonia mydas) que anida en la Península de Guanahacabibeses es una de las más grandes del archipiélago cubano pero existe poca información disponible sobre la misma. Por ello utilizamos la variación espacial y temporal de la anidación así como el éxito reproductivo y las características morfométricas de las hembras grávidas para realizar la primera caracterización ecológica de esta colonia. Se estudiaron nueve playas durante 14 años (1998-2012) desde mayo hasta septiembre (pico de anidación). Estas se dividieron en dos categorías: índices y secundarias. Las hembras fueron medidas y marcadas para comparar las nuevas hembras marcadas (823) con las remigrantes (140). Se detectó una variación temporal en la anidación a tres niveles: interanual, dentro de la temporada y durante la noche. Se observa un ciclo bienal en los primeros seis años, luego un incremento anual (2003-2008) seguido por un período de decrecimiento en las anidaciones (2010-2012). Dentro de la temporada se encontró un pico en el mes de julio aunque cambia de la primera quincena a la segunda en años diferentes y la hora de emergencia preferentemente de 22:00-02:00hr. En la variación espacial, las playas pequeñas tuvieron mayor densidad de anidación, especialmente entre los 6-9m hasta la línea media de marea alta, donde se maximiza la producción de neonatos, aunque el éxito de emergencia de los neonatos se mantuvo como promedio por encima del 80% en toda la playa. Morfométricamente las hembras remigrantes resultaron mayores como promedio que las marcadas por primera vez. Estos resultados son una primera aproximación para la caracterización de la colonia de Guanahacabibes pero tienen gran valor para establecer prioridades de conservación dentro del contexto de los planes de manejo nacionales así como para garantizar un monitoreo eficiente y la protección de las playas de anidación.Universidad de Costa Rica2013-12-01info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionartículo originalhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_2df8fbb1info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/1286910.15517/rbt.v61i4.12869Revista de Biología Tropical; Vol. 61 No. 4 (2013): Volume 61 – Regular number 4 – December 2013; 1935–1945Revista de Biología Tropical; Vol. 61 Núm. 4 (2013): Volumen 61 – Número regular 4 – Diciembre 2013; 1935–1945Revista Biología Tropical; Vol. 61 N.º 4 (2013): Volumen 61 – Número regular 4 – Diciembre 2013; 1935–19452215-20750034-774410.15517/rbt.v61i4reponame:Portal de Revistas UCRinstname:Universidad de Costa Ricainstacron:UCRenghttps://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/12869/12126Derechos de autor 2013 Revista de Biología Tropicalacceso abiertohttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess2022-10-13T15:04:37Zoai:portal.ucr.ac.cr:article/12869Portal de revistashttps://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/Universidadhttp://www.ucr.ac.crhttps://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/index/oaijorge.polanco@ucr.ac.crCosta RicaNo aplicaNo aplicaNo aplicaopendoar:2025-08-13T10:15:51.206Portal de Revistas UCR - Universidad de Costa Ricafalse
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