The Conservation Of Green Sea Turtles (Cheloniidae: Chelonia Mydas) At Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia

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Date
2014-02
Authors
Aini Hasanah Abd Mutalib
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Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
This study conservation of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Setiu was studied by determining their distribution, nest characteristics, clutch size, nesting morphology of the nesting green turtles, false crawl attempts, successful nesting attempts and emergence hour. Hatchery management was also facilitated by measuring the successive hatching rate, duration of incubation, egg condition, hatchlings’ growth and hatchlings’ carapacial scutes variation. This study also assessed socio-demographic aspect on the trends of consuming turtle eggs. Secondary data on nesting ecology and behaviour were collected from 2007 to 2012. Data on successful hatching rate and days of incubation were collected from 2009 to 2012. Hatchlings’ growth and carapacial scute variation were determined in the year 2012. Survey forms were collected from the communities in Setiu to assess their level of awareness regarding green sea turtle conservation. Telaga Papan has significantly the highest distribution of green marine turtle nesting than the other five beaches (ANOVA, F 5, 42 = 8.87, p< 0.0001). The highest number of successful nesting attempts was in 2012 (mean = 28.71 ± 6.58). There was no correlation between size of the female turtles and the number of eggs (rs = 0.23, p = 0.14). The majority of the turtles landed between 1200h and 0159h (23%). There was a strong correlation between successful nesting attempts with false crawls (rs= 0.88, p= 0.02). Results show that there was a significant difference in successive hatching rate between the years (F3, 618 = 5.05, P = 0.002). There was no significant difference for successive hatching rates among the beaches over the four years (F4, 618= 1.06, P = 0.39). The majority of the eggs were successively hatched in 2012 (73.9%), with the least number of eggs consumed by natural predators (0.5%). Successive hatching rate was significantly higher in shaded hatchery (mean = 86. 84 ± 2.741, F2,202 = 7.75, p = 0.0006). Duration of the incubation is significantly was shorter in open hatcheries (F 2, 202 = 27.81, p < 0.0001). In the study of hatchling’s growth, hatchlings from Kuala Baharu Utara (KBU) and Mengabang Sekepeng (MSK) were significantly larger in straight curve length (SCL), straight curve width (SCW) and body weight (F= 40.07, p<0.05). Normal hatchlings were significantly larger than those with carapacial scute variation (χ2 = 37.75, p < 0.05). The awareness level among male respondents was significantly higher level of awareness compared to female (F1, 770= 16.69, p < 0.001). On the age factor, older respondents scored significantly lowest than other age groups (F1, 770= 8.97, p < 0.001). Results on turtle eggs consumption showed that most of the locals had stopped consuming. In conclusion, it is suggested that an integrated planning and management on conservation of green sea turtles to be done in Setiu. More progressive biological research and monitoring, with intensive trainings and classes, community development programs, stricter law implementation, with strong collaboration of government and non-government organization must be continuously done in order to conserve green turtles.
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green turtle
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