Annual Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Tagging and Nesting Research on Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dennochelys coriacea) on Sandy Point, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Dutton P, McDonald D, Boulon R. 1992. Annual Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Tagging and Nesting Research on Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dennochelys coriacea) on Sandy Point, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Pursuant to Contract #PC-P&NR-287-91. USVI
The Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix, supports the largest and best studied population of nesting leatherback sea turtles in the United States and northern Caribbean (Eckert and Eckert, 1985). Since 1981, saturation tagging and consistent night patrols during nesting season have yielded a comprehensive database of information on each female nesting at Sandy Point. The 1992 nesting season began February 9 and ended July 27, with a peak in late April/early May. Fifty five turtles were observed, 54 of which laid a total of 345 nests with an average of 78.3 yolked eggs per clutch. Each female produced an average of 6.4 nests with an average internesting interval of 9-10 days. Seventeen of the turtles were remigrants, with remigration intervals of 2-4 years. Of the 231 nests excavated, mean hatch success was 66.3% (SD = 19.2). Twenty one nests were lost to erosion. Nightly patrols and a concerted relocation effort have reduced the major historical threats of poaching and erosion. Of nests laid in 1992, 145 ( 42%) were relocated. The slaughter of gravid female leatherbacks on Sandy Point has been eliminated, although there is still poaching of both eggs and adults of greens (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) after nightly patrols cease.