TUTTLE, Jacob A.*; ROSTAL, David C.; Georgia Southern University; Georgia Southern University: LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE Caretta caretta NESTING ON A GEORGIA BARRIER ISLAND: EFFECTS OF NEST RELOCATION

The nesting biology of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was studied on Blackbeard Island in 2005. Blackbeard Island is a national wildlife refuge and has an active nest relocation program designed to minimize the number of loggerhead nests lost to seawater inundation and washout. Current efforts are to relocate the minimal number of nests, while maintaining a high hatching success, to learn the effects of current management practices, and to improve on future management practices. Nesting activity occurred from early May until early August. Nest hatching occurred from July to September. All observed nesting females were measured, flipper tagged, and PIT tagged. A total of 38 nests were monitored. Nests were randomly assigned to two groups (in situ or relocated). In situ nests (n=19) were left where the female originally deposited them while relocated nests (n=19) were moved to the dune area above the spring high tide mark. All nests were measured and all eggs were counted. Temperature dataloggers were placed in the center of all nests and temperature was recorded every 2 hours until hatching occurred. Twenty eggs were measured from each nest and 20 hatchlings were measured if available. Nest depth, clutch size, egg size, mean nest temperature, incubation duration, hatching success, and hatchling size were compared. The average egg size was 42.49mm. The average weight of measured eggs was 41.35g. The average hatchling size was 45.51mm in length, 34.55mm in width, and 20.27mm in height. The average weight of measured hatchlings was 19.59g. The average nest size was 49.26cm in depth, 37.60cm in the center, and 24.39cm from the surface. Effects of nest relocation will be discussed as well as overall seasonal nesting patterns. Comparisons will be made with previous year�s results (2000-2004).