Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkish Journal of Zoology, cilt.48, sa.5, ss.318-326, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Conducting long-term conservation and monitoring activities for sea turtles provides a more precise depiction of their population status compared to studies conducted across a single year. The frequency of the nesting activity may fluctuate dramatically over time, depending on the environmental conditions. This study aimed to examine the nest count, female abundance, and reproductive output of green turtles on Yeniyurt Beach in the eastern Mediterranean between 2017 and 2022. The beach was surveyed via annual monitoring at consistent intervals. Temporal variations in the nest count and abundance of females were analyzed using the Mann– Kendall and Sen’s Slope tests. A total of 803 nests were recorded, with an average of 133 nests per nesting season and an average nest density of 33.5 km–1. A total of 326 nests were excavated, with 28,546 of the 36,394 eggs successfully hatched (78% hatching success). The nest count and female abundance exhibited an insignificant, monotonic upward trend. The average nesting female count per nesting season was estimated to be 138.5 based on the observed clutch frequency (CF) and 67 based on the estimated CF. Yeniyurt Beach has a high nesting activity rate, representing 6% of the Mediterranean in terms of the nest count and 5% in terms of female abundance. Approximately 12% of nests did not produce hatchlings due to flooding and predation. Yeniyurt Beach lacks a conservation status, making it vulnerable to future threats like industrialization. In addition to the designation of the area as a protected site, the rehabilitation of the backshore habitat is of significant importance.