OBSERVACIONES SOBRE LA ANIDACION DE TORTUGAS MARINAS EN LOS ROQUES (VENEZUELA) Y EVALUACION DE MEDIDAS PARA SU PROTECCION

Abstract

The nesting beaches and seasons of three species of marine turtles Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta y Eretmochelys imbricata at Los Roques (Venezuela) were studied. E. imbricata was the most common, while C. mydas and C. caretta were rare. The data about the position of the nest on the beach, clutch size and hatching rate were examined. Five methods for the protection of nests against egg collectors were used camouflage, incubation in boxes from three different development times, and moving the eggs to a protected beach. The hatching success and mortality causes in each method are evaluated, finding that it is possible to move the eggs after 35 days of incubation with good hatching rates. The possibilities of these methods for turtle conservation programs at Los Roques and the Caribbean in general are discused.