Breeding biology of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas (Reptilia : Cheloniidae), on Wan-An Island, PengHu archipelago. II. Nest site selection

Nest site selection of the green turtles on Wan-An Island in the summer of 1996 was determined. Turtles (Chelonia mydas) laid on average one clutch fo r every three emergences. Even though the total track length was 115 m on a verage, individual lengths varied considerably depending on the nesting bea ch where the turtles emerged. Limited accessibility, i.e. adequate distance from the nearest village and a well-protected environment, make beaches A and D suitable nesting beaches for green turtles on Wan-An Island. Both tot al track and nesting track apexes were found clustered in the interface zon e, and turtles preferred to reach the vegetation zone once they emerged fro m the sea. It is suggested that the turtles on Wan-An Island exhibit nest s ite selection behavior. Based on these results and the high nest site fidel ity to their first nesting beach, conservation recommendations are proposed to the county and central governments for the preservation of nesting beac hes in their natural state, by prohibiting illegal sand mining and properly controlling turtle watch groups on Wan-An Island.