Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West Indies
Annual monitoring of leatherback sea turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) 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 embry...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/685 |
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| author | Kate E. Charles Clare E. Morrall Jonnel J. Edwards Kenrith D. Carter Josephine A. Afema Brian P. Butler David P. Marancik |
| author_facet | Kate E. Charles Clare E. Morrall Jonnel J. Edwards Kenrith D. Carter Josephine A. Afema Brian P. Butler David P. Marancik |
| author_sort | Kate E. Charles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Annual monitoring of leatherback sea turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:16:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0bafee5ece1429eb4831f36af70c2fb |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:16:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0bafee5ece1429eb4831f36af70c2fb2023-11-16T18:40:09ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-02-0113468510.3390/ani13040685Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West IndiesKate E. Charles0Clare E. Morrall1Jonnel J. Edwards2Kenrith D. Carter3Josephine A. Afema4Brian P. Butler5David P. Marancik6Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, GrenadaOcean Spirits, Inc., West Indies, GrenadaDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, GrenadaOcean Spirits, Inc., West Indies, GrenadaDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, GrenadaDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, GrenadaDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, West Indies, GrenadaAnnual monitoring of leatherback sea turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/685leatherback sea turtlenestinghatchlingreproductive success |
| spellingShingle | Kate E. Charles Clare E. Morrall Jonnel J. Edwards Kenrith D. Carter Josephine A. Afema Brian P. Butler David P. Marancik Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West Indies Animals leatherback sea turtle nesting hatchling reproductive success |
| title | Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West Indies |
| title_full | Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West Indies |
| title_fullStr | Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West Indies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West Indies |
| title_short | Environmental and Nesting Variables Associated with Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) Embryonic and Hatching Success Rates in Grenada, West Indies |
| title_sort | environmental and nesting variables associated with atlantic leatherback sea turtle i dermochelys coriacea i embryonic and hatching success rates in grenada west indies |
| topic | leatherback sea turtle nesting hatchling reproductive success |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/685 |
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