Sea turtle nesting activity along Eglin Air Force Base on Cape San Blas and Santa Rosa Island, Florida from 1994 to 1997.

摘要

Along EAFB on Cape San BIas, the only sea turtle species nest observed has beenudthe loggerhead turtle. The first green turtle nest documented along the Florida panhandleudcoast was observed on EAFB property, however (D. Atencio, EAFB, pers. comm). SantaudRosa Island, located approximately 150 miles west of Cape San BIas supports a small butudconsistent, group of nesting green turtles (Fig. 2). Although erosion is not as severe alongudSanta Rosa Island as it is on Cape San BIas, and vehicular traffic is not permitted, seaudturtles nesting on this barrier island must survive severe tropical storms, predation, andudartificial lighting to be successful. Because this area supports a rare group of nesting greenudturtles and is disturbed by intense artificial lighting from Air Force missions and adjacentudresort towns, continued monitoring is necessary. The sea turtle species that nest along thisudbarrier island, and the human activities that disturb those sea turtles present uniqueudcircumstances for management ofthis area. Protection ofthe significant nestingudpopulations of sea turtles on EAFB properties on Cape San BIas and Santa Rosa Islandudrequires yearly monitoring of the nesting activity and the natural and human disturbancesudinfluencing the nesting females.udThe objectives ofthis study were to monitor sea turtle nesting along EAFB onudCape San BIas to determine number of nests and hatching success, assess disturbances,udand determine proper management to ensure successful nesting and hatching.(56 page document)