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Running against time: conservation of the remaining hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting population in the Dominican Republic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2012

Ohiana Revuelta ,
Yolanda M. León ,
Francisco J. Aznar ,
Juan A. Raga  and
Jesús Tomás
Ohiana Revuelta
Affiliation:
Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Yolanda M. León
Affiliation:
Grupo Jaragua, El Vergel 33, El Vergel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Francisco J. Aznar
Affiliation:
Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Juan A. Raga
Affiliation:
Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Jesús Tomás*
Affiliation:
Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J. Tomás, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain email: jesus.tomas@uv.es
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Abstract

Saona Island hosts the last hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting population in the Dominican Republic, which has experienced a severe decline in the last decades, mostly due to illegal egg take. Here we present the results of an artificial incubation programme started in 2007 to protect the clutches from human predation. A preliminary survey in 2006 showed that about 60% of clutches laid were taken by humans. Over the study period (2007–2010) we recorded 400 clutches, of which 38.2% were predated by humans, 40.7% were artificially incubated and 21% were incubated in situ. Overall, the artificial incubation programme allowed the release of 12,340 hatchlings. No differences were found in hatching and emergence success between clutches incubated in situ and clutches artificially incubated. However, incubation temperatures and incubation durations recorded suggest a male-biased hatchling sex-ratio in artificially incubated clutches. Although artificial incubation may mitigate the effect of egg take, our results indicate that other measures, such as clutch relocation to protected sections of the beach should be taken. Beach patrolling and education are currently implemented so that artificial incubation will be eventually phased out in favour of in situ incubation.

Keywords

Eretmochelys imbricataDominican Republicconservationartificial incubationhuman egg takeemergence successsex-ratio
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 93 , Issue 4 , June 2013 , pp. 1133 - 1140
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012 

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