The British Herpetological Society

The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.

 ISSN 0268-0130

2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.


pdf 03. A review of the biology of the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, at five major nesting beaches on the south western Mediterranean coast of Turkey

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pp.27-33 

Authors: Oguz Türkozan, Ertan Tas Kavak And Çetin Ilgaz

Abstract: Most nesting by loggerhead turtles in Turkey has been recorded at 20 sites along the Mediterranean coast. In addition, sites primarily used by green turtles are also used by loggerheads. The annual number of loggerhead nests recorded on these 20 beaches ranges from 663 to 1 991, with a mean of 1 267 nests per season. We review the biology of nesting and predation at five of the most important and more regularly investigated loggerhead nesting sites (Dalyan, Fethiye, Patara, Belek and Kizilot). These five beaches may host up to 920 nests per season. With approximately 307 adults per season, the Dalyan beach has the highest capacity in terms of numbers of nests and of nesting females. Hatching success at the five beaches was negatively affected by fox predation (93% of the predated eggs on the beaches), crab predation (29.5% of the predated hatchlings), and light-pollution (42% of the hatchlings). In addition, predation by beetle larvae has been observed on the eggs at Fethiye beach ( 1 7.6% of the predated eggs at this site).

Keywords: Chelonia, egg, hatchling, nesting, predation

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IMPORTANT NOTE - JUNE 2020

Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.   

Aligning with this change, it is now no longer possible to purchase a subscription that includes a print copy of the HJ.  All members who have existing HJ print subscriptions that remain active as at end June 2020 will receive the full four 2020 print editions.  New subscribers or renewals after this time will only have option to subscribe to the online only subscription package.  Subscription pricing has been amended to reflect the content changes.

 

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