MTN 58:14 Protection for Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles in Rio Largartos, Yucatan, Mexico In 1990

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Protection for Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles in Rio Largartos, Yucatan, Mexico In 1990

Rene Márquez M.¹, Mauricio Garduño², Patricia Castañeda³, Miguel A. Carrasco¹, Raul Lope-M.², and Aristoteles Villanueva¹
¹Sepesca-INP/CRIP, A.P. 591, Manzanillo, Colima 28200 Mexico
²Sepesca-INP/CRIP, A.P. 73, Yucalpetén, Yucatán 97200 Mexico
³1070 17th Avenue N., St. Petersburg, Florida 33704 USA

Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) were the most abundant nesting turtle in the Mexican state of Yucatan in 1990, followed by the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). The nesting season began in April and ended in September. Hawksbills dominated until the first week of July and green turtles dominated thereafter; only one loggerhead nest was reported. Nesting occurred on 20 km of beach between Las Coloradas and El Cuyo. Hawksbill nesting was diffuse throughout, whereas green turtle nesting was concentrated on the eastern end of the beach.

Eighty-two female hawksbills were tagged, measured and weighed on the nesting beach; and 74 juvenile hawksbills were captured in the feeding ground, tagged, and released. In addition, 193 nests were transplanted for conservation purposes, 83 nests were left on the beach, and 13 nests were guarded in situ during the incubation period. The transplanted nests included 29,627 eggs; 18,291 hatchlings were released. The beach nests included 14,700 eggs; nearly 9,100 hatchlings were released. One hundred twenty-two female green turtles were tagged and measured on the nesting beach and 181 nests were transplanted (22,858 eggs produced 14,192 hatchlings). Eight nests could not be located and 75 additional nests were left to incubate in situ. These 83 nests included 10,480 eggs that produced an estimated 6,500 hatchlings. Four juvenile greens and two loggerheads were tagged and measured in the feeding ground.

Acknowledgements. The support of CONACyT (Proyecto P220CC0R892427) is gratefully acknowledged. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service funded P. Castañeda's activities.