Investigation of the effects of sand particle size on the suitability of nesting habitats of hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata; Linnaeus, 1766) in the Persian Gulf

Document Type : (original research)

Authors

Environmental Science and Engineering Department, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran

Abstract

 Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are one of the seven remaining species of sea turtles in the world that are classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List due to their long-term use. Nest site selection is one of the most important behaviors in reproductive females. Because the environment around the nest affects the survival of the hatchlings. Sands were collected from eight nesting beaches in the Persian Gulf from three depths. After drying the samples in the open air, 100 gr of the dried sample was weighed separately for each depth. ASTM standard sieves (No.: 4-200) were used to determine the particle size distribution. Finally, the contents of each sieve were collected and the statistical parameters were calculated using the GRADISTAT program. The sand texture in Hormoz and Ommolkaram Islands was Gravelly and in other areas it was Slightly Gravelly. Particle size in all important points of nesting areas was less than 1000 μm with an average of 581.6±171.4. The lowest particle diameter in Nayband Bay was 284.9 μm and the highest in Ommolkaram Island was 856.4 μm. Based on the results of the present study, the grain size and origin of sand particles in the Persian Gulf islands, including oyster shells, coral and gravel, indicate high diversity in the structure of nesting hawksbill turtle populations in Iran. In the Persian Gulf hawksbill turtle, the size of particles as a feature does not have a significant effect on the tendency to dig nests.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Lutz, P.L., Musick, J.A. and Wyneken, J., 2002. The biology of sea turtles, Volume II. CRC press. Dec 17.
  2. Spencer, R.J., 2002. Experimentally testing nest site selection: fitness trade‐offs and predation risk in turtles. Ecology. 83(8): 2136-2144.
  3. Mortimer, J.A., 1990. The influence of beach sand characteristics on the nesting behavior and clutch survival of green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Copeia. 19: 802-17.
  4. Eckert, S.A., 1999. Data acquisition systems for monitoring sea turtle behavior and physiology. Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles. UCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication. 4: 88-93.
  5. Wood, D.W. and Bjorndal, K.A., 2000. Relation of temperature, moisture, salinity, and slope to nest site selection in loggerhead sea turtles. Copeia. 1: 119.
  6. López-Castro, M.C., Carmona, R. and Nichols, W.J., 2004. Nesting characteristics of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Cabo Pulmo, southern Baja California. Marine Biology. 145(4): 811-820.
  7. Zavaleta-Lizárraga, L. and Morales-Mávil, J.E., 2013. Nest site selection by the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in a beach of the north of Veracruz, Mexico. Revista mexicana de biodiversidad. 84(3): 927-937.
  8. Horrocks, J.A. and Scott, N.M., 1991. Nest site location and nest success in the hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata in Barbados, West Indies. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 10: 1-8.
  9. Cheng, I.J., Huang, C.T., Hung, P.Y., Ke, B.Z., Kuo, C.W. and Fong, C.L., 2009. Ten years of monitoring the nesting ecology of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, on Lanyu (Orchid Island), Taiwan. Zoological Studies. 48(1): 83-94.
  10. Ackerman, R.A., 2017. The nest environment and the embryonic development of sea turtles. in the biology of sea turtles. CRC Press. 83-106.
  11. Parkinson, W.R. and Brantly, R., 2000. Physical monitoring workshop: survey results and summary. Marine Turtle Newsletter. 89: 17-20.
  12. Hewavisenthi, S. and Parmenter, C.J., 2002. Incubation environment and nest success of the flatback turtle (Natator depressus) from a natural nesting beach. Copeia. 2: 302-312.
  13. Ackerman, R.A. and Lott, D.B., 2004. Thermal, hydric and respiratory climate of nests. Reptilian incubation: environment, evolution and behaviour. 15-43.
  14. Prange, H.D. and Ackerman, R.A., 1974. Oxygen consumption and mechanisms of gas exchange of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) eggs and hatchlings. 18: 758-63.
  15. Karavas, N., Georghiou, K., Arianoutsou, M. and Dimopoulos, D., 2005. Vegetation and sand characteristics influencing nesting activity of Caretta caretta on Sekania beach. Biological Conservation. 121(2): 177-188.
  16. Margaritoulis, D., 2005. Nesting activity and reproductive output of loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, over 19 seasons (1984–2002) at Laganas Bay, Zakynthos, Greece: the largest rookery in the Mediterranean. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 4(4): 916-929.
  17. Foley, A.M., Peck, S.A. and Harman, G.R., 2006. Effects of sand characteristics and inundation on the hatching success of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) clutches on low-relief mangrove islands in southwest Florida. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 5(1): 32-41.
  18. Yalçın-Özdilek, Ş., Özdilek, H.G. and Ozaner, F.S., 2007. Possible influence of beach sand characteristics on green turtle nesting activity on Samandağ Beach, Turkey. Journal of Coastal Research. 23(6): 1379-1390.
  19. Salleh, S.M., Nishizawa, H., Ishihara, T., Sah, S.A. and Chowdhury, A.J., 2018. Importance of sand particle size and temperature for nesting success of green turtles in Penang Island, Malaysia. Chelonian Conservation and Biology.17(1): 116-122.
  20. Mortimer, J.A. and Donnelly, M., 2008. Marine turtle specialist group 2007 IUCN Red List status assessment hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). IUCN, Marine Turtle Specialist Group, Gland.
  21. Meylan, A.B. and Donnelly, M., 1999. Status justification for listing the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) as critically endangered on the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. Chelonian conservation and Biology. 3(2): 200-224.
  22. Pilcher, N.J., Antonopoulou, M., Perry, L., Abdel-Moati, M.A., Al Abdessalaam, T.Z., Albeldawi, M., Al Ansi, M., Al-Mohannadi, S.F., Al Zahlawi, N., Baldwin, R. and Chikhi, A., 2014. Identification of important sea turtle areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian region. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 460: 89-99.
  23. Zare, R., Vaghefi, M.E. and Kamel, S.J., 2012. Nest location and clutch success of the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) at Shidvar Island, Iran. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 11(2): 229-234.
  24. Hesni, M.A., Tabib, M. and Ramaki, A.H., 2016. Nesting ecology and reproductive biology of the Hawksbill Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, at Kish Island, Persian Gulf. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 96(7): 1373-1378.
  25. Razaghian, H., Askari Hesni, M., Shams Esfandabad, B., Vafaei Shooshtari, R. and Toranjzar, H., 2019. Study of nest site selection and reproductive characteristics of hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Mond protected area, Bushehr province. Journal of Animal Environment. 11(3): 93-100. (In Persian)
  26. Tabib, M., Tahmasbi, S., Vazirizadeh, A., Mohammadi, M. and Hadiramaki, A., 2011. Biometric survey of hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Kish Island - Persian Gulf. Journal of Animal Environment. 3(3): 19-26. (In Persian)
  27. Laloë, J.O., Esteban, N., Berkel, J. and Hays. G.C., 2016. Sand temperatures for nesting sea turtles in the Caribbean: Implications for hatchling sex ratios in the face of climate change. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 1(474): 92-99.
  28. Folk, R.L.W., 1975. A study in the significance of grain size parameters. Journal Sedimentary Petrology. 27: 3-27.
  29. Blott, S., 2000. Grain size distribution and statistics package for the analysis of unconsolidated sediments by sieving or by laser granulometer. Grandistat. 1-6.
  30. Bustard, H.R. and Greenham, P., 1968. Physical and chemical factors affecting hatching in the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas (L.). Ecology. 49(2): 269-276.
  31. Salleh, S.M., Nishizawa, H., Sah, S.A., Chowdhury, A.J. and Rusli, M.U., 2021. Sand particle size influences nest site selection of green turtles (Cheloina mydas) differently in east and west peninsular Malaysia. Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 16(3): 671-680.
  32. Stancyk, S.E. and Ross, J.P., 1978. An analysis of sand from green turtle nesting beaches on Ascension Island. Copeia. 10: 93-99.
  33. Foote, J. and Sprinkel, J., 1994. Beach compactness as a factor affecting turtle nesting on the west coast of Florida. InProceedings of the 14th annual symposium on sea turtle biology and conservation. Bjorndal, K.A., Bolten, A.B., Johnson, D.A. and Eliazar, P.J., (eds.). NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFSSEFSC-351, Miami, FL. 217-220.
  34. Mortimer, J.A., 1995. Factors influencing beach selection by nesting turtles, Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles. In World Conference on Sea Turtle Conservation, Revised Edition.
  35. Ditmer, M.A. and Stapleton, S.P., 2012. Factors affecting hatch success of hawksbill sea turtles on Long Island, Antigua, West Indies. PloS one.7(7): e384
Journal of Animal Environment
Volume 15, Issue 2
August 2023
Pages 193-200

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics