Nesting and hatching success of the sea turtle Caretta caretta on Marathonissi island (Zakynthos, Ionian Sea, Greece

Abstract

Nesting behaviour and ha tching success of the sea turtle Caretta caretta (loggerhead) were studied on Marathonissi island in Zakynthos (Ionian Sea, Greece) during the summer of 1995. On this island there exist two discrete nesting areas : the North sector and the West s ector. Nesting activity was greatest in both sectors during July. The number of nests was significantly higher in the North sector, whereas remarkably more attempts were observed in the West sector. Hatching success was also gr eater in the North sector wh ere there were significantly more empty eggshells, mark of successful hatching, than in the West sector. Moreover, the number of dead embryos was significant in the West sector. The current study dem onstrates a correlation between the choice of nesting area and hatching success.