An alternative method to sand-packed incubation of sea turtle eggs
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Published source details
Critchley K.H., Wood J.R. & Wood F.E. (1983) An alternative method to sand-packed incubation of sea turtle eggs. Herpetological Review, 14, 42.
Published source details Critchley K.H., Wood J.R. & Wood F.E. (1983) An alternative method to sand-packed incubation of sea turtle eggs. Herpetological Review, 14, 42.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Sea turtles Action Link |
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Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Sea turtles
A study in 1979 at a sea turtle farm in the Cayman Islands (Critchley et al. 1983) found that 26–58% of green turtle Chelonia mydas eggs collected from a captive colony hatched when artificially incubated in sand-packed and foam-layered Styrofoam boxes. Results were not statistically tested. In a small-scale trial, hatching success of eggs incubated in foam-packed boxes was 58% (undeveloped eggs: 15%, developing eggs that didn’t hatch: 27%) and hatching success of eggs incubated in sand-packed boxes was 48% (undeveloped eggs: 20%, developing eggs that didn’t hatch: 31%; egg numbers not provided). In a larger trial, hatching success of eggs incubated in foam-packed boxes was 30% (1,311 of 4,400 eggs) compared to 26% hatching success of eggs incubated in sand-packed boxes (11,004 of 42,000 eggs). In an initial trial to compare incubation approaches, nine green turtle clutches were divided, and half of the eggs were placed in Styrofoam boxes packed in sand and the other half were placed in Styrofoam boxes packed in between layers of perforated polyethylene foam (3.8 cm thick). Each box contained 56–97 eggs. Following this trial 4,400 eggs collected in 1979 were incubated in foam-packed boxes and hatching success compared to 42,000 eggs incubated in sand-packed boxes.
(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)
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