Predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the Baja California

The coyote (Canis latrans) is one of the most widely distributed and opportunistic carnivores in North America. It feeds on a variety of differents pecies, ranging from small- (rodents) to medium-sized mammals (Lagomorpha), reptiles, and birds. Among sea turtles, the main species nesting on the coa...

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Main Authors: Lía Méndez-Rodríguez, Ticul Álvarez-Castañeda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2016-06-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/1453
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author Lía Méndez-Rodríguez
Ticul Álvarez-Castañeda
author_facet Lía Méndez-Rodríguez
Ticul Álvarez-Castañeda
author_sort Lía Méndez-Rodríguez
collection DOAJ
description The coyote (Canis latrans) is one of the most widely distributed and opportunistic carnivores in North America. It feeds on a variety of differents pecies, ranging from small- (rodents) to medium-sized mammals (Lagomorpha), reptiles, and birds. Among sea turtles, the main species nesting on the coasts of Baja California is Lepidochelys olivacea. Solitary turtles arrive to beaches in low numbers. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of coyote predation on sea turtle nests on pristine beaches of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Of a total of 43 nests observed, 34 (79.1%) were considered as recent, and 9 (20.9%) as old nests; of these, 35 (81.4%) and 8 (18.6%) showed evidence of digging/not digging by predators, respectively. Eggshells were observed around and inside all preyed upon nest holes. Coyotes should be considered an important predator of turtle nests in the Baja California Peninsula.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1870-3453
2007-8706
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publishDate 2016-06-01
publisher Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
record_format Article
series Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
spelling doaj-art-06c1fdd3050f41b88a193c7138defe802025-08-20T01:49:19ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062016-06-0187210.1016/j.rmb.2016.02.005Predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the Baja CaliforniaLía Méndez-Rodríguez0Ticul Álvarez-CastañedaCentro de Investigaciones Bilógicas del Noroeste The coyote (Canis latrans) is one of the most widely distributed and opportunistic carnivores in North America. It feeds on a variety of differents pecies, ranging from small- (rodents) to medium-sized mammals (Lagomorpha), reptiles, and birds. Among sea turtles, the main species nesting on the coasts of Baja California is Lepidochelys olivacea. Solitary turtles arrive to beaches in low numbers. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of coyote predation on sea turtle nests on pristine beaches of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Of a total of 43 nests observed, 34 (79.1%) were considered as recent, and 9 (20.9%) as old nests; of these, 35 (81.4%) and 8 (18.6%) showed evidence of digging/not digging by predators, respectively. Eggshells were observed around and inside all preyed upon nest holes. Coyotes should be considered an important predator of turtle nests in the Baja California Peninsula. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/1453Low abundanceCanis latransCarnivoreLepidochelys olivaceaPredationNesting survival
spellingShingle Lía Méndez-Rodríguez
Ticul Álvarez-Castañeda
Predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the Baja California
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Low abundance
Canis latrans
Carnivore
Lepidochelys olivacea
Predation
Nesting survival
title Predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the Baja California
title_full Predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the Baja California
title_fullStr Predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the Baja California
title_full_unstemmed Predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the Baja California
title_short Predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the Baja California
title_sort predation on turtle nests in the southwestern coast of the baja california
topic Low abundance
Canis latrans
Carnivore
Lepidochelys olivacea
Predation
Nesting survival
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/1453
work_keys_str_mv AT liamendezrodriguez predationonturtlenestsinthesouthwesterncoastofthebajacalifornia
AT ticulalvarezcastaneda predationonturtlenestsinthesouthwesterncoastofthebajacalifornia