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Attum O, Nagy A. Patterns of light pollution on sea turtle nesting beaches in the Egyptian Red Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116246. [PMID: 38531203 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
We examined the probability of past sea turtle nesting as a function of light intensity and patterns of temporal changes of light along nesting beaches in the Egyptian Red Sea. Beaches had a lower probability of past sea turtle nesting as light intensity increased. Light has been significantly increasing on mainland nesting beaches between 1992 and 2021 except for temporary declines. Island beaches historically had lower light pollution, but there was a sudden increase of light starting in 2014 that continued through 2021, except for the precipitous decline in 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic. Light pollution on past nesting beaches has now approached levels that may be too polluted and discourage nesting. The impacts of the increased light pollution on nesting density and hatchling survival of hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata, and green turtles, Chelonia mydas, is likely negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Attum
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Southeast, 4201 Grant Line Rd., New Albany, IN 47150, USA.
| | - Abdullah Nagy
- Department of Zoology, Al-Azhar University, 1 Al Mokhayam Al Dayem St., Cairo, Egypt.
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Charles KE, Morrall CE, Edwards JJ, Carter KD, Afema JA, Butler BP, Marancik DP. Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West Indies. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040685. [PMID: 36830474 PMCID: PMC9951857 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Annual monitoring of leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting grounds in Grenada, West Indies has identified relatively low hatch rates compared to worldwide trends. This study investigated the impact of selected environmental variables on leatherback sea turtle embryonic development and hatching success rates on Levera Beach in Grenada between 2015-2019. The mean number of nests per year and eggs per nest were 667.6 ± 361.6 and 80.7 ± 23.0 sd, respectively. Within excavated nests, 35.6% ± 22.0 sd of eggs successfully developed embryos and 30.6% ± 22.6 sd of eggs successfully hatched. The number of eggs per nest, along with embryo and hatching success rates, differed by nesting year. Embryo development success rate was associated with nest location, and both embryo development and hatching success rates were positively associated with nest depth and negatively associated with the percentage of eggs exhibiting microbial growth and with the presence of inspissated yolk. There was no embryo development or hatchling success association with month of the nesting season, distance from the high-water mark, distance from vegetation, nor maternal carapace length. The mean nest temperature was 31.7 °C ± 1.64 sd and mean temperatures during the middle third of egg incubation suggest clutches are highly skewed towards a preponderance of female hatchlings. Histopathologic findings in hatchling mortalities included severe, acute, multifocal, heterophilic bronchopneumonia with intralesional bacteria in 4/50 (8%) hatchlings. Data from this study guide conservation strategies by identifying risk factors and further avenues of research needed to support reproductive success of leatherback sea turtles in Grenada and the greater Caribbean region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate E. Charles
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, Grenada
- Ocean Spirits, Inc., West Indies, Grenada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1473-537-2512
| | - Clare E. Morrall
- Ocean Spirits, Inc., West Indies, Grenada
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Conservation, School of Arts and Sciences, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, Grenada
| | - Jonnel J. Edwards
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, Grenada
| | - Kenrith D. Carter
- Ocean Spirits, Inc., West Indies, Grenada
- Dr Carter Veterinary Services, West Indies, Grenada
| | - Josephine A. Afema
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, Grenada
| | - Brian P. Butler
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, Grenada
| | - David P. Marancik
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, Grenada
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