Volumen 42 - Número 3: 377-383 | - 2007
Nota Científica

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Humedad y temperatura en nidos naturales y artificiales de tortuga golfina Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschssholtz 1829)

Juan F. Arzola-González^1*

¹Gestión Ambiental de Ecosistemas Costeros, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Apartado postal 610, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México

*This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The variation in moisture and temperature was analized in the hatching of olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivace eggs, during the 1992-1993 season in “El Verde” beach (Sinaloa, Mexico). This variation was compared for different incubation environments (natural nests, corrals and polystyrene boxes). The results show that the average temperature was 33.6°C in natural nests, 32.8°C in corral and 32.1°C in boxes. Moisture percentage fell between 59.6% to 23.4% as calculated by the weight method and for saturation of 22.9 mL g^-1 to 8.8  mL g^-1. Hatching percentage was 67.9% in natural nests, 64.1% in corral and 46.9% in boxes. A granulometric study of sand showed differences in sand grain for nests areas. For this season the incubation average temperature was 32.7°C; for this reason, the hatchlings were females. The moisture levels registered in each incubation environment in this experiment apparently were not a determinant factor for the hatching success.

Key words: Moisture, temperature, incubation, nests, turtle