Abstract
Low level aerial observations were used to obtain synoptic records of the distribution of sea turtle nesting activity along both coasts of Costa Rica. Pertinent environmental information was simultaneously recorded including beach characteristics, river effluents, and evidence of coastal currents. Other correlative information was obtained from detailed maps, current charts, and climatological data. On the Caribbean coast, as expected, green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting was concentrated on the beaches between the Tortuguero and Parismina Rivers. On the Pacific coast, two major nesting beaches for the Pacific ridley Lepidochelys olivacea were found, each having over 100 thousand turtles aggregated offshore during the peak period between September and November. Aggregations were present at least from July through December. Massed nesting occurs each year on these same beaches and the event is known as the “salida de flota” by the natives of Guanacaste Province. Numerous less important nesting beaches were also found. Nesting density did not correlate well with beach quality but, instead, appeared to be related to the proximity of the beach to offshore currents. Oceanic current systems apparently facilitate the transport of sea turtles to the general vicinity of the important nesting beaches on both coasts of Coata Rica.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Caldwell, D. K. and R. S. Casebeer: A note on the nesting of the East Pacific ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea. Herpetologica 20, p. 213 (1964).
Carr, A. F.: Panspecific reproductive convergence in Lepidochelys kempi. Ergebn. Biol. 26, 297–303 (1963).
—: The navigation of the green turtle. Scient. Am. 212, 79–86 (1965)
— and L. Ogren: The ecology and migrations of sea turtles. 4. The green turtle in the Caribbean Sea. Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 121, 1–48 (1959).
Chávez, H.: Marcado y recaptura de individuos de tortuga lora, Lepidochelys kempi (Garman). Inst. nac. Investigación biol. pesq., Mexico 19, 1–28 (1968).
Hendrickson, J. R. and E. Balasingam: Nesting beach preferences of Malayan sea turtles. Bull. natn. Mus. St. Singapore 33, 69–76 (1966).
Hughes, D. A. and J. D. Richard: On the nesting of the Pacific ridley turtle in Costa Rica. (In preparation).
Oliver, J. A.: An aggregation of Pacific sea turtles. Copeia 2, pp. 103 (1946).
Pritchard, P. C. H.: Sea turtles of the Guianas. Bull. Fla St. Mus. 13, 85–140 (1969).
Wüst, G.: Stratification and circulation in the Antilles and Caribbean Basins, Pt 1. 201 pp. New York: Columbia University Press 1964.
Wyrtki, K.: Oceanography of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. A. Rev. 4, 33–68 (1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami
Contribution No. 1557 from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Richard, J.D., Hughes, D.A. Some observations of sea turtle nesting activity in Costa Rica. Marine Biology 16, 297–309 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347753
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347753