Environmental Impact Research Program. Life History and Environmental Requirements of Loggerhead Sea Turtles.
Abstract
In the United States, scattered nestings of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) may occur in most of its range from Texas to Florida and Florida to New Jersey; however, nesting concentrations occur on coastal islands of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and the coasts of Florida. The greatest portion of a loggerhead's life is spent in ocean and estuarine waters where they breed, feed, migrate, and hibernate. The remainder of their life is spent on coastal beaches where the female digs a nest and lays her eggs, the eggs hatch, and the hatchlings crawl to the water to become part of the aquatic system again. Mating is believed to occur in shallow water adjacent to nesting beaches just prior to nesting and egg laying. Nesting activity begins in the spring, peaks in midsummer, and declines until completion in late summer. A loggerhead female generally nests every other year or every third year. A small percentage nest at intervals less than 2 years or more than 3 years. When a loggerhead nests, it usually layes two to three cluthes of eggs per season (range one to five). Temperature is a major factor influencing sea turtle life histories. Sand temperature affects nest site selection by adult females, the incubation time and hatching success of eggs, and the sex and emergence timing of hatchlings, whereas water temperature affects nesting activity and movements of adults.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA166236
Entities
People
- David A. Nelson