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Nesting characteristics of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Cabo Pulmo, southern Baja California

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Abstract

Baja California represents the northernmost reproductive area for Lepidochelys olivacea. This region is characterized by its high temperature and low humidity. Thus, nest site selection plays an important role in reproductive success. To evaluate the factors affecting site selection for oviposition Las Barracas Beach, located in the south of the peninsula, was visited, from August to November 2000, in weekly periods. A density of 2.55 nests ha−1 was estimated from a total of 55 nests counted. A hatching success of 73.7% was observed, with 23.7% mortality and 2.5% of eggs without apparent development (eggs counted=4,031). On the day of oviposition, the relative surface humidity (between 0.75% and 1.75%) and temperature (32°C) preferred by the females for nest construction was determined at the nest site, as well as the mean distance between the nests and the high tide line for that day (17.65 m). Hatching success was affected by humidity and distance. In addition, hatching success was higher between 10 and 30 m above the high tide line measured on the day of oviposition (surface humidity ca. 1%). A total of 874 hatchlings were measured, with an average of 42.1 mm straight carapace length. Larger sizes were found in October and smaller ones in November. Generally speaking, the sizes found here were larger than those obtained in other areas. This is probably due to two factors: (1) the nests in Las Barracas were kept in situ, whereas in other areas nests are sometimes incubated artificially and (2) the nesting population of southern Baja California is different from the eastern Pacific population.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank A. Salame Méndez, R.B. Dueñas, and J.U. Ramírez for their observations to the manuscript and P.W. Sammarco and an anonymous referee for comments that substantially improved the presentation of this paper. The first author expresses gratitude to A. López Gasca and M. López Castro for their everlasting support during the realization of this work and to the personnel of Parque Marino Nacional de Cabo Pulmo for the facilities made available for this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico

    M. C. López-Castro & R. Carmona

  2. Wildcoast International Conservation Team, Davenport, CA, USA

    W. J. Nichols

  3. Department of Herpetology, California Academy of Science, San Francisco, CA, USA

    W. J. Nichols

Authors
  1. M. C. López-Castro
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  2. R. Carmona
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  3. W. J. Nichols
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Correspondence to R. Carmona.

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Communicated by P.W. Sammarco, Chauvin

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López-Castro, M.C., Carmona, R. & Nichols, W.J. Nesting characteristics of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Cabo Pulmo, southern Baja California. Marine Biology 145, 811–820 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1359-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1359-x

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