INCUBATION TEMPERATURES AND SEXUAL PROPORTION OF MARINE TURTLE NESTS IN THE SAN JUAN CHACAHUA BEACH, OAXACA, MEXICO

Abstract

In México, studies about the behavior of the temperatures inside the incubation chambers of marine turtle nests are scarce. In this study the incubation temperature in nests of a protection pen in the San Juan Chacahua beach, Oaxaca, México, were evaluated in January-May, 2014. Nesting marine turtles were sought out and in each translocated nest an electronic device was placed for the whole incubation period. The success in hatching was quantified and the stages of embryo mortality were classified. The average temperatures showed a feminizing trend in the second third of the incubation period, with daily thermal variation among all the nests. The highest percentage of embryo mortality in this study took place during the first formation stages. This study contributes with basic information about the incubation temperatures and sexual proportion in nests of three marine turtle species that nest in a Natural Protected Area in México.