Green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) nesting on Atol das Rocas, north-eastern Brazil, 1990–2008

A significant decline in the carapace length of nesting green turtles (Chelonia mydas) was observed at Atol das Rocas, Brazil, from 1990 to 2008. The study found that the mean curved carapace length decreased from 115.9 cm in the early years (1990–1992) to 112.9 cm by the end of the study period (2006–2008). Despite this trend, nesting levels remained stable, with an average of 335 nests per year (excluding data from 1998–1999 due to lack of monitoring). The research, conducted over 17 seasons, also reported key reproductive metrics such as clutch size, hatching success, and incubation period. Atol das Rocas, a protected federal reserve since 1979, saw the cessation of turtle killing in 1990, allowing undisturbed nesting and incubation. The study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring in understanding population dynamics even within protected areas.

Bellini, C., Santos, A. J. B., Grossman, A., Marcovaldi, M. A., & Barata, P. C. R. (2012). Green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) nesting on Atol das Rocas, north-eastern Brazil, 1990–2008. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 93(4), 1117–1132. https://doi.org/10.1017/s002531541200046x