Masculinisation of leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea hatchlings from eggs incubated in styrofoam boxes
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Published source details
Dutton P.H., Whitmore C.P. & Mrosovsky N. (1985) Masculinisation of leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea hatchlings from eggs incubated in styrofoam boxes. Biological Conservation, 31, 249-264.
Published source details Dutton P.H., Whitmore C.P. & Mrosovsky N. (1985) Masculinisation of leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea hatchlings from eggs incubated in styrofoam boxes. Biological Conservation, 31, 249-264.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Relocate nests/eggs to a nearby natural setting (not including hatcheries): Sea turtles Action Link |
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Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Sea turtles Action Link |
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Relocate nests/eggs to a nearby natural setting (not including hatcheries): Sea turtles
A replicated, controlled study in 1980–1982 on a sandy beach in Suriname (Dutton et al. 1985; same experimental set-up as Whitmore & Dutton 1985) found that moving leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea nests to above the tideline produced all female hatchlings, whereas natural nests produced mixed sex ratios and artificially incubating in Styrofoam boxes produced all male hatchlings. Leatherback turtle hatchlings reburied in the sand on the same beach produced 100% female hatchlings, compared to 30–100% of female hatchlings in natural nests and 100% male hatchlings in Styrofoam-box-incubated nests. In 1982, leatherback turtle eggs from two clutches laid below the tide line were reburied elsewhere on the beach. Ten hatchlings were randomly selected after emergence, euthanised and sexed. Sex ratios were compared to 10 hatchlings/clutch of two naturally-incubated nests laid in 1980, six naturally-incubated nests laid in 1982 and five clutches in 1980 and 10 clutches in 1982 incubated in Styrofoam boxes (45–60 eggs/box).
(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)
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Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Sea turtles
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1980 and 1982 on a sandy beach in Suriname (Dutton et al. 1985) found that artificially incubating leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea nests in Styrofoam boxes produced all male hatchlings whereas natural nests produced mixed sex ratios and reburied nests produced all female hatchlings. Leatherback turtle eggs incubated in Styrofoam boxes produced no female hatchlings, compared to 30–100% of female hatchlings in natural nests and 100% female hatchlings in reburied nests. Incubation duration was 70–73 days in Styrofoam boxes and 60–66 days in natural nests (results not statistically tested). Leatherback turtle eggs from five clutches laid in 1980 and 10 clutches laid in 1982 were incubated in Styrofoam boxes (45–60 eggs/box). In 1980, ten embryos were sampled and sexed prior to hatching. In 1982, ten hatchlings were randomly selected from each box after emergence, euthanised and sexed. Sex ratios were compared to 10 hatchlings/clutch of two naturally-incubated nests laid in 1980, six naturally-incubated nests laid in 1982 and two clutches laid in 1982 below the tide line that were reburied elsewhere on the beach.
(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)
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