Bioko: critically important nesting habitat for sea turtles of West Africa |
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Authors: | Jesús Tomás Brendan J Godley Javier Castroviejo Juan A Raga |
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Institution: | 1.Centre for Ecology and Conservation,University of Exeter,Penryn,UK;2.Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology,University of Valencia,Valencia,Spain;3.Asociación Amigos de Do?ana,Sevilla,Spain |
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Abstract: | We evaluate the conservation status and threats faced by sea turtle nesting populations at Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
(Central Africa). Beaches were monitored to obtain a detailed sea turtle nest census and, where possible, tagging of adult
females was undertaken. Four sea turtle species were found nesting in the area: the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata); with the former two species nesting in regionally important numbers. Nesting activity was concentrated between November
and February, with a peak in December–January. Tagging and recapture of green turtles in two consecutive seasons suggested
an estimated 560 (interquartile range: 420–1,681) and 414 (interquartile range: 190–1,255) nesting females in the area, respectively.
Estimated numbers of nesting leatherbacks ranged from 123 to 215 and 243 to 293 in the first and second season, respectively.
The other two species were less abundant (olive ridley: 19–29 and 28–43; hawksbill: 4–10 and 2 turtles). Data were compared
with more recent surveys in the area and contextualised with information on human related threats. Despite the size of nesting
stocks, ongoing permitted and illegal take of adult turtles at the nesting site constitutes a serious threat for these breeding
aggregations. Additionally, tag returns from throughout the Gulf of Guinea suggest that the level of take in regional fisheries
may also be a major threat. |
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