Nesting activity of loggerhead turtles (2013–2020) and 20 years abundance trend (2001–2020) on Çıralı Beach, Turkey

Abstract

Long-term monitoring studies on sea turtles give reliable data on population size and nest density estimates. In this context, this study provides reliable data about nesting and hatching activities of the loggerhead turtle on Çıralı Beach based on an eight year (2013–2020) monitoring period. Moreover, the study evaluates long-term nesting trends over the years 2001–2020. A total of 852 nests with a mean of 107 nests per season was recorded during 2013–2020 on the Çıralı Beach. A total of 68,443 eggs were deposited and 41,080 (60%) of them were hatched, and 37,830 of the hatchlings (92%) were able to reach the sea. The mean clutch size and hatching success were 81.9 eggs and 60%, respectively, and show interannual variation. The mean incubation duration was 47.4 days, and show similarity across years. The loggerhead turtle nest tended towards an upward trend over the 20 consecutive years. Moreover, the current nesting population size of Çıralı loggerhead turtles are estimated as 96 females based on the clutch frequency calculation. This upward trend may raise from the nesting shift from the Tekirova beach. Çıralı sea turtle conservation activity has an exemplary practice in terms of supporting the local community with conservation activities during nesting seasons.