What’s Going on at Buck?

The primary objective of my research is to analyze the factors that contribute to the success or mortality of sea turtle hatchlings. These factors include various aspects, such as location, environmental conditions (including predators and bacteria). As I delved into the database and explored different queries, I encountered some challenges since it was a new experience for me. However, I gained a deeper understanding of the predators that affect our focal species, the Green and Hawksbill Sea Turtles. Predators such as rats, mongoose, crabs, and insects (ants and maggots) were present in relatively low numbers. Conversely, I observed that bacteria, heat stress, and water inundation of the nests had a more significant impact. Bacterial infection is evident during nest excavation, characterized by the presence of milky yellow fluid within the egg, which hinders proper development. Heat stress manifests as desiccated or cooked eggs, which have been occurring more frequently. To address this, protocols like white sand treatment for nests and the use of hobo loggers to track nest temperatures during incubation have been implemented. These temperature records are also crucial for determining the predominant sex of the hatchlings. My goal is to map and analyze all these factors, considering their spatial distribution and potential relationships with vegetation, in order to draw conclusions about their influence on hatch success.