Invertebrate infestation in green turtle (Chelonia mydas (linnaeus, 1758)) and loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758)) nests on Alata beach, Mersin, Turkey

Invertebrate infestation in sea turtle nests (Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas) was recorded for the first time for Alata beach, Mersin, Turkey. A total of 121 green and 32 loggerhead nests were recorded and 34 (22.22%) of these were examined in terms of the invertebrate faunal composition. The specimens found in the nests were identified to order, family, or genus levels and they were represented as 5 orders. These invertebrate groups are Pimelia sp. larvae (Tenebrionidae; Coleoptera), Elater sp. larvae (Elateridae; Coleoptera), Scarabaeidae larvae (Coleoptera), Muscidae (Diptera), Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta), Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera), and Cyrptostigmata (Acari). © TÜBİTAK

The effect of invertebrate infestation on green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests on Kazanli Beach, Mersin, Turkey

In this study invertebrate infestation in green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests were recorded for the first time for Kazanly beach, Mersin, Turkey. For this aim, in 2006 nesting season, 294 natural intact green turtle nests were sampled to examine their contents and invertebrate infestation was found in 76 (25.85% of the total sampling green turtle nests). These infested nests were examined in terms of the invertebrate faunal composition. The specimens found in the green sea turtle nests were identified to order, family or genus levels and they were represented in 5 orders. These invertebrate groups are Elater sp. larvae (Elateridae; Coleoptera), Pimelia sp. larvae (Tenebri-onidae; Coleoptera), Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta), Cyrptostigmata (Acari), Oniscidae (Isopoda), Formicidae (Hy-menoptera). Elater sp. was the most common invertebrate group in the green turtle nests. According to student t test, we found statistically significant differences between 7 independent variables and invertebrate species pres-ence. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis explained that there is a negative relationship between hatching success rate and invertebrate species presence. © 2020 Folium Publishing Company

Nest site and nest content variables affect invertebrate infestation of marine turtle nests on Alata Beach, Mersin, Türkiye

We studied nest site and nest content variables affecting invertebrate infestation in green turtle (Chelonia mydas; n = 180) and loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta; n = 80) nests on Alata Beach, Mersin, Türkiye. Invertebrates were found in 46 (25.6 %) of the green turtle nests and 23 (28.8 %) of the loggerhead nests during three nesting seasons (2003, 2005, and 2007). The following variables were measured: distance between the nest and the nearest vegetation (DNV) or the water's edge (DWE), the number of unfertilized eggs (NUE), the number of empty eggshells (NEE), the duration of the incubation period (IP), and the hatching success rate (HSR). Both the related (NEE, HSR) and different variables (DWE and IP for green turtles; DNV and NUE for loggerheads) affected the severity of nest infestation in each species. According to the logistic regression analysis results, invertebrate presence is positively correlated to NUE, while a smaller DNV value can result in more invertebrate species inside and/or around loggerhead turtle nests. Invertebrate presence is also positively related to the nests’ DWE, which decreases the HSR in green turtle nests. Green turtle nests on the Alata beach were deeper, closer to the vegetation, and further from the sea than the loggerhead turtle nests. Therefore, we believe that nest site and nest content variables affecting the presence of invertebrates differ between these two turtle species. © NWJZ, Oradea, Romania, 2023 http://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/index.htmlHorticultural Research Institute, HRI; Mersin Üniversitesi: 2005-1We thank the Mersin University Research Fund (Project No: BAB-FEF-We thank the Mersin University Research Fund (Project No: BAB-FEF-BB (SEG) 2005-1) for financial support during the 2005 sea turtle nesting season. We would also like to thank the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Alata Horticultural Research Institute, for the accommodations support and the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 7th Regional Directorate, Section of Mersin Province for the wire cages and warning plates used in the studies on monitoring and conservation during sea turtle nesting seasons. Finally, the researchers also wish to thank the Mersin University Department of Biology volunteer students for helping with the fieldwork.BB (SEG) 2005-1) for financial support during the 2005 sea turtle nesting season. We would also like to thank the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Alata Horticultural Research Institute, for the accommodations support and the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 7th Regional Directorate, Section of Mersin Province for the wire cages and warning plates used in the studies on monitoring and conservation during sea turtle nesting seasons. Finally, the researchers also wish to thank the Mersin University Department of Biology volunteer students for helping with the fieldwork