An analysis of hatch success and hatch failure in in-situ an relocated nests of the green turtle, Chelonia Mydas in Chagar Hutang, Redang Island

Abstract

A total of 54 nests were excavated and analyzed from nests that had undergone incubation more than 60 days to determine the hatch success and hatch failure of green turtle nest at Chagar Hutang, Redang Island. Among those, 43 nests were in-situ nests while 11 nests were relocated nests. The latter were relocated when they were attacked by ants during incubation. The average hatch success at in-situ nests was 75.75% (n= 43, ±28.60) whereas the average hatch success in relocated nests was 68.33% (n= l l, ±42.41) both ranging from 0% to I 00% in values. Among the eggs that had been predated upon in in-situ nests, the main predator was ants, 58.49% followed by ghost crabs, 25.47%, maggot, 13.21 % and plant root with 2.83%. But in relocated nests the trend was different with ghost crabs being the main predator (49.23%) followed by maggot (26.15%) and ants, 24.62%. The relocated nests had no plant root infiltration (0%).