Inter-Nesting Migrations by Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the West Indies

Three leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting grounds on two islands in the northeastern Caribbean Sea were patrolled simultaneously (1984-1986). Two of 62 turtles (3.2%) strayed from the nesting beach of initial choice and deposited eggs at another nesting ground in 1984; four of 70 (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Herpetologica 1989-06, Vol.45 (2), p.190-194
Main Authors: Eckert, Karen L., Eckert, Scott A., Adams, Thomas W., Tucker, Anton D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal nesting
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Beaches
Biological and medical sciences
Dermochelys coriacea
Environmental conservation
Evolution
Female animals
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Herpetology
Marine
Marine fishes
Nesting tables
Reptilia. Amphibia
Sea turtles
Turtles
Vertebrata
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Summary:Three leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting grounds on two islands in the northeastern Caribbean Sea were patrolled simultaneously (1984-1986). Two of 62 turtles (3.2%) strayed from the nesting beach of initial choice and deposited eggs at another nesting ground in 1984; four of 70 (5.7%) did so in 1985. No straying was observed in 1986. No turtle was recorded nesting in more than two of the three study areas. The proportion of strays per population ranged from 0-27.3% per annum. Turtles traveled between Manchenil Bay Beach and Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix (approximately 30 km), between Sandy Point and Isla Culebra, Puerto Rico (approximately 90 km), and between Isla Culebra and Manchenil Bay (approximately 110 km). We evaluate the results in light of published records of straying by other species of sea turtle and conclude that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that leatherbacks show weaker reproductive philopatry than do other sea turtles.
ISSN:0018-0831
1938-5099