Marathonisi in Zakynthos: a special nesting beach
In the gulf of Laganas there are 6 nesting beaches, which participate in the whole nesting activity of the gulf at a rate from 53% (in the strictly protected beach of Sekania) to 6% (in the beach of Gerakas). It has been recently proved that the number of nests is not the only factor which qualifies a nesting beach as important but also the gender of the hatchlings. No matter how strange it may seem, the gender of the young Caretta caretta is defined by the temperature of the eggs while being hatched. According to research done by the specialist on the subject, professor of the University of Toronto, Dr Nicholas Mrosovsky, who was invited by ARCHELON, the crucial temperature for the Caretta caretta nesting in Greece is 29 C. If the hatching temperature is above this, the young turtles become female, whereas, if it is below 29 C, they become male.
This important discovery gives new perspectives in the management of the nesting beaches and defines new criteria for their international ranking.
Translation: Anna Trigatzi
“Manolis” is the name of the eleventh sea turtle caretta-caretta released this year
Caretta-caretta nesting season started in Rethymno (Crete)!
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