Nesting characteristics of olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) on El Naranjo Beach, Nayarit, Mexico

Published source details Hart C.E., Ley-Quiñonez C., Maldonado-Gasca A., Zavalanorzagaray A. & Alberto Abreu-Grobois F. (2014) Nesting characteristics of olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) on El Naranjo Beach, Nayarit, Mexico. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 9, 524-534.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Sea turtles Action Link

Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Sea turtles

A study in 1993–2010 on four sandy beaches in a single bay in Nayarit, Mexico (Hart et al. 2014) found that at least half of artificially incubated olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea nests hatched successfully each year. Over 18 seasons of artificially incubating olive ridley turtle nests, hatching success was 50–59% in two years, 60–69% in five years, 70–79% in three years, 80–89% in six years and >90% in two years. Number of hatchlings released varied between 2,555 in 1997 and 23,467 in 2006. Four turtle nesting beaches (2–8 km long) were monitored during the peak nesting season (July–November) for two nights/week in 1993–1999 and seven nights/week in 2000–2010. Nests were collected (1.4 nests/day) and artificially incubated in polystyrene boxes (40 x 30 x 50 cm, wall thickness: 2 cm; see original paper for details) in an indoor facility on one of the beaches. Hatching success was evaluated once 20 hatchlings had emerged by calculating the proportion of live and dead neonates.

(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)