Comparison of the physical properties of two Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting beaches (Akyatan and Samandag) in the eastern Mediterranean (Reptilia: Cheloniidae)


Sönmez B., Turan C., Ozdilek S. Y.

ZOOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, cilt.59, sa.1, ss.30-38, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 59 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2013
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/09397140.2013.795061
  • Dergi Adı: ZOOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.30-38
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Nesting beaches, marine turtle, incubation biology, Chelonia mydas, Akyatan, Samandag, Mediterranean Sea, INCUBATION ENVIRONMENT, SELECTION
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The physical properities of sea turtle nesting beaches may strongly influence embryo development and hence conservation planning. In this study, we compared the characteristics of two nesting beaches of Green Turtles, Chelonia mydas, at Akyatan and Samandag in southern Turkey. A total of 48 sand samples from 48 nests was examined and compared in respect to moisture content (M), temperature (TT), electrical conductivity (EC), salinity (S), total dissolved solution (TDS), pH, air ratio (AR), sand grain size together with distance from sea (DFS), depth (ND), incubation period (ID) and hatching success. Significant differences between the two areas were found in nest chamber moisture, conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solution and sand grain size. In a principal component analysis (PCA), the first component explained 45.1% of the variability and was dominated by the effects of the TDS, EC, S, pH and M. The second component explained 24.2 % of the variation and was dominated by the contributions of the TT, ID and ND. This is evidence that moisture plays a more important role than thermal properties in differentiating between the two beaches.