Sex ratio bias in hatchling sea turtles from artificially incubated eggs
-
Published source details
Mrosovsky N. (1982) Sex ratio bias in hatchling sea turtles from artificially incubated eggs. Biological Conservation, 23, 309-314.
Published source details Mrosovsky N. (1982) Sex ratio bias in hatchling sea turtles from artificially incubated eggs. Biological Conservation, 23, 309-314.
Actions
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 replicated, controlled study on a sandy beach in Suriname (Mrosovsky 1982) found that artificially incubated green turtle Chelonia mydas eggs produced a lower percentage of female hatchlings compared to natural nests. The percentage of female hatchlings was lower in nest boxes (41 of 97, 42% [numbers from table]) compared to natural nests (77 of 120, 64%). Temperatures in incubation boxes may have been cooler than those in the sand of the nesting beach (box: 27.4°C; beach: 28.8°C), and average incubation periods were longer (box: 63 days; beach: 57 days), although these results were not tested statistically. Ten clutches of eggs were incubated in polystyrene boxes with around 88 eggs/box, and a further 12 clutches were left in the sand where they were laid. Temperature was measured in an additional incubation box, though the hatchlings from this box were not included in the analysis. Temperatures on the beach were taken at a depth of 80 cm, in an unshaded area where turtles nest. Temperature readings were taken at 3 h intervals in early June. Ten hatchlings from each clutch were euthanized and their gonads were dissected to determine the sex.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
)_2023.JPG)
