An Assessment of Egg Size in The Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) on Samandağ Beach, Turkey

Year 2016, Volume: 1 Issue: 3, 33 - 41, 19.09.2016

Bektaş Sönmez

https://doi.org/10.28978/nesciences.286310

Abstract

Many environmental factors such as temperature and moisture are known to influence the
eggs of sea turtles. Egg diameter, egg circumference and egg weight were compared in the
three stages on Samandağ beach, Turkey. Also, distance from sea, total nest depth, total eggs
(clutch size), number of unhatched eggs were measured. In total, 284 eggs from 44 nests were
measured. There were significant differences among the stages in term of egg diameter and
egg weight. However; there are no significant differences among the stages in term of egg
circumference. The egg diameter and egg weight were positively correlated with distance
from the sea. Total nest depth was positively correlated with egg circumference and egg
weight. The nests further from the sea and deeper from the surface have large egg size. If
larger females produce large eggs, large females are attempting to nesting further from the sea
and deeper from the surface. The morphometric characters of female turtles not measure in
this study. Similar research can be done including female measurements in the future. These
results would be useful for conservation workers or nest site managers

Keywords

Egg size, Reproduction, Green turtle, Chelonia mydas, Samandağ

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