Impacts of human activities and predators on the nest success of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, in the Arabian Gulf
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Published source details
Ficetola G.F. (2008) Impacts of human activities and predators on the nest success of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, in the Arabian Gulf. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 7, 255-257.
Published source details Ficetola G.F. (2008) Impacts of human activities and predators on the nest success of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, in the Arabian Gulf. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 7, 255-257.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Protect nests and nesting sites from predation using artificial nest covers: Sea turtles Action Link |
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Protect nests and nesting sites from predation using artificial nest covers: Sea turtles
A replicated, controlled study in 2005 on one beach in northeast Qatar (Ficetola 2008) reported that covering hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata nests with plastic nets resulted in less predation by feral cats Felis catus and Ruppell’s foxes Vulpes rueppelli compared to when nests were not covered. Zero of 16 nests covered with plastic nets were predated, whereas all nests that were not covered were either partially predated (6 of 31, 19%) or completely predated (25 of 31, 81%). Before plastic nets were deployed a further three nests were partially predated, and one was completely predated. In July 2005, sixteen nests were covered with plastic nets, and 35 were left uncovered. In April–September 2005, a 1.4 km stretch of beach was patrolled five times/day, and a further 1.7 km stretch was patrolled every 7–10 days. After four nests in the intensively searched stretch of beach were predated, all nests in this stretch of beach were covered with plastic nets.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
