Sex Ratio Estimation of the Most Eastern Main Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting Site: Anamur Beach, Mersin, Turkey

The nesting activities of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) at Anamur Beach, one of their main nesting grounds along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, were investigated during the 2006 and 2007 nesting seasons. The mean sex ratios were estimated based on gonad histology of dead hatchlings and late stage embryos and were calculated as 72.1% and 79% as females for the years 2006 (n = 366) and 2007 (n = 271), respectively. The nest temperatures of two nests and sand temperatures at nest depths were also recorded by placing electronic temperature recorders into the nests. The recorded sand temperatures were lower when close to the sea and higher towards inland. The mean temperatures of two nests during the entire incubation period were 28.9 and 31.2 °C, with 8 days' difference in their incubation period. Based on mean temperature during the middle third of the incubation period, which ranged from 28.6 to 30.8 °C, the sex ratios were calculated as 49.3% and 79.9% females, respectively. These data are stati...