Are adult turtles getting ready for the nesting season?
Are adult turtles getting ready for the nesting season?
During our April field survey we monitored Marsa Abu Dabbab and we found that there were less turtles than usual. Especially the adult males that are usually observed there feeding on the seagrass were absent. We formulated few hypotheses to explain this abnormal low abundance:
- The scarce visibility made it harder for the team to spot turtles while snorkeling, especially in the deeper areas of the bay;
- The seagrass seemed to be covered with sand and the extension of the meadow appeared to be very much reduced, which provoked probably a reduction in food availability;
- The increased number of people in the water scared the turtles and as we usually monitor the area around 10a.m. the turtles were already gone in deeper areas;
- The nesting season is starting very soon and during this time of the year sexually mature turtles usually migrate towards the mating grounds that are located in deeper areas.
While a definitive conclusion is not possible at this stage and with the data available, we have at least a theory. On one hand, the reduced number of observed turtles is probably a consequence of all the previously mentioned hypotheses that contributed in different ways. On the other hand, the lack of big adult males, who are known to migrate every year to and from the mating grounds, reinforced our theory that breeding areas are located in other areas. Further evidence for this is: according to data collected since the last year, the number of adult males in Abu Dabbab increased at the end of the nesting season. If this is confirmed during upcoming field surveys, it will highlight once again the importance of Marsa Abu Dabbab as a major feeding ground for adult and endangered green turtles in the Red Sea.
If you have seen adult green turtle males in Marsa Abu Dabbab during March, please share your pictures with us as this will help us better understanding seasonal movements of these animals and will contribute to their conservation.
For further information on this, please contact us at agnese@hepca.com.