Znanstveni časopis
Natura Croatica
Natura Croatica je znanstveni časopis Hrvatskoga prirodoslovnog muzeja. Izlazi od 1992. godine i objavljuje radove iz područja biologije i geologije, kao i radove utemeljene na proučavanju prirodoslovnih muzejskih zbirki.
ISSN 1330-0520 (tisak) · ISSN 1848-7386 (online)
2020
Natura Croatica, Vol. 29 Suppl.1
Sažetak
The Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea but, like other sea turtles, it is considered a threatened species. Improving anatomical knowledge on normal aspects of the species is important for correct diagnosis and proper therapy and, therefore, for improving the chances of a complete recovery and a fast reintroduction into the wild for a greater number of sea turtle bycatch and other mishaps. For this reason, 15 Loggerhead turtles, with clinically healthy eyes, were submitted to ocular ultrasonographic (US) examinations. The US exam was quick, non-invasive, and simple to perform and permitted researchers to assess all the ocular features.
Ključne riječi
Loggerhead; sea turtle; eye; ultrasound; biometric
Sažetak
We report another nesting event by a loggerhead turtle in Ġnejna (Malta), in June 2018, with an extraordinary hatching rate of 99.1%. This follows the previously reported nesting in 2012 in the same bay, and the 2016 event in a nearby beach at Golden Bay, both beaches located in the NW of Malta. Before the 2012 record, scientifically recorded turtle nesting in Malta had only been reported dating back some 100 years, although in one paper it is alleged that turtles may have been nesting in Malta up until some 50-60 years ago. Noting that loggerheads have an average remigration interval of 2 years, it is possible that the same turtle that nested in 2012 came back to Ġnejna to nest again in 2018. It is hoped that DNA analysis, which ideally follows at a later stage, will determine whether it was the same turtle. Campaigns are currently ongoing to solicit greater reporting of nesting. Relocation of eggs is discussed. In this paper we also describe conservation measures that were set-up in this bay and in Golden Bay, including measures during hatching. Emergency conservation orders were issued in all the three nesting events, to protect the beaches in question from any major and potentially harmful activities. The sites were also surrounded and physically protected with a 24 hour monitoring scheme being set-up with the help of volunteers from Nature Trust Malta and government officials.
Ključne riječi
Caretta caretta; sea turtle; nesting; Mediterranean; Malta; exceptional and sporadic nesting
Sažetak
The nesting of sea turtles in Eastern Adriatic has not been previously reported, even though the possible nesting of the loggerhead turtle in Albania has been hypothesized. Data for nesting activities have been collected since 2002 along the Albanian coastline. Anecdotal evidence assembled over the years has provided important information regarding the possibility of the nesting of the loggerhead turtle in Albania. This study confirms the nesting of the loggerhead turtle in Albania. Although sporadic, it takes place along the entire Adriatic coast of Albania. This information shifts the border of nesting known so far from the northeast Ionian (Greece) to the southeast Adriatic Sea (Albania).
Ključne riječi
loggerhead; nesting; Albania; southeast Adriatic
Sažetak
The leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761) is an occasional trophic visitor of the Mediterranean basin. So far, very few individuals have been genetically analysed from this sea and none from Italy. We sequenced a mitochondrial DNA fragment of three specimens of D. coriacea found in recent years along the North-Adriatic and Tyrrhenian shores. They were all females approaching adult stage. Causes of death were attributable to the main threats for sea turtles in Mediterranean waters, all related to human activities (collisions with boats, entanglement in fishing nets and plastic debris ingestion). Two different mitochondrial haplotypes were observed, with the two North-Adriatic turtles sharing the same one. Compared to known Dermochelys sequences and previous genetic characterization of rookeries, these results suggest that the most probable origin of at least two of the three leatherbacks was the western Atlantic.
Ključne riječi
leatherback turtle; mtDNA; origin; central Mediterranean; human threats
Sažetak
Marine turtles are highly migratory reptiles that utilize both terrestrial and aquatic environments during their life. As in other regions of the Mediterranean, marine turtles in Egypt are affected by numerous human activities, such as deterioration of critical habitats and migratory routes, incidental capture, boat strikes, pollution and intentional killings. In accordance with the commitment of Egypt to the conservation of marine turtles in its national waters, underlined in national legislation and by way of ratification of related international conventions, the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Turtles (NAP) was developed and adopted with the support of UNEP-MAP Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas. The participatory approach was applied in the preparation of the NAP, carried out through the concentration meetings with stakeholders. The main goal of the NAP is to achieve favorable conservation status for marine turtle species and their habitats, and enhance their protection along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast. This goal will be implemented through specific actions and sub-actions, including legislation, management, research, capacity building, and awareness and education.
Ključne riječi
marine turtles; action plan; Egypt; Mediterranean Sea; critical habitats; marine conservation; policy
Sažetak
Since 2016 steps towards the monitoring and conservation of marine turtles along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast were taken, to determine other possible nesting sites. A survey was implemented with the relevant stakeholders to identify possible nesting areas along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast from Port Said to El-Sallum. By the adoption of the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast, activities related to category (ii): management action, category (iii): research, and category (iv): capacity building were implemented. Monitoring and tagging programmes were established; protocols for sampling and genetic analyses were established, in addition to a survey of the relevant stakeholders. Training programmes were conducted at regional and national levels and then the national team was identified.
Ključne riječi
marine turtles; Egyptian Mediterranean coast; national action plan; loggerhead (Caretta caretta); green turtle (Chelonia mydas); conservation
Sažetak
The nesting of sea turtles (Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas) was studied along the beach south of Tartus (i.e. the Beach of Dreams "Al Ahlam" as far as the border of Syria and Lebanon to the south, a distance of about 40 km. It includes a length of about 10 km suitable for sea turtle nesting. The beach was divided into 7 subsections, each of them between 0.3 and 3 km long. The nesting success was 25% for the loggerhead turtle and 40% for the green turtle. A total of 106 dead marine turtles were observed, including 95 (92%) loggerhead turtles and 11 (8%) green turtles.
Ključne riječi
Sea turtle nesting; stranding; threats; Tartus beach; Syria
Sažetak
The Lampedusa Sea Turtle Rescue Center started its activity in 1990, and in this paper we analyze data from 2812 loggerhead turtlesrescued by 2016. Here we analyse which factors might have affected the rehabilitation success of the injured sea turtles hosted in our Center. We underline the following factors: type of clinical case, animal’s health condition and the presence of a qualified surgeon. For the first factor we estimated the percentage of survival animals with the various clinical cases (n=928) and for the second factor we estimated the outcome of therapies (recovery achieved/death) and health condition (good health condition/depressed/comatose) using the Fisher exact test which confirmed how health condition can significantly affect sea turtle rehabilitation success. For the last factor, we divided the study period into five subperiods (2001-2003, 2004-2006, 2007-2009, 2010-2012, 2013-2016) based on the evolution of surgical techniques and the presence of an expert surgeon with direct experience of sea turtle surgery; with post hoc test of univariate ANOVA investigation, we confirm significantly the value of the experience of professionals involved.Bycatch and health condition appear to significantly influence rehab success and the presence of a competent surgeon is radically responsible for an increase in the survival of loggerhead turtles, as expected.
Ključne riječi
marine turtles; rehabilitation success; clinical cases; survival; Lampedusa