The first record of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting on the northernmost Aegean coast, Turkey

Abstract

This study presents the first documented evidence of a loggerhead turtle nest on the northernmost Aegean coast of Turkey which was found on the Gelibolu Peninsula of Çanakkale province, Turkey. The nest contains a total of 74 eggs; 50 of them produced hatchlings and 46 of those hatchlings reached to the sea safely. This record supports the idea that sea turtles search alternative nesting beaches as a result of climate change.

First Record on Loggerhead Nest in Gökçeada, Türkiye in Northern Aegean

“…Furthermore, sporadic loggerhead nesting has recently been reported along the Aegean coast including Muğla/Marmaris, Aydın/Kuşadası, and İzmir/Urla for the Turkish nesting population (Sürücü et al, 2017;Başkale et al, 2018). The first nesting record in the northern Aegean region occurred in 2020 when a C. caretta nest was reported on Kum beach, Gallipoli Peninsula, Çanakkale and it was recommended that there may be suitable beaches for nesting in this region (Yalçın Özdilek et al, 2020). This report presents a detailed report of the sporadic loggerhead nest found on Aydıncık beach, Gökçeada, northernmost Aegean, Turkey.…”

“…Furthermore, this sporadic nesting may be a search for a potential new breeding area, especially under the scenario of increasing temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea. Sporadic nesting has been recorded in recent years both in Turkey and in other parts of the Mediterranean (Sürücü et al, 2017;Carreras et al, 2018;Başkale et al, 2018;Yalçın Özdilek et al, 2020).…”