Seasonality of Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Reproduction at Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles (1980–2011) in the Regional Context of the Western Indian Ocean

Aldabra Atoll, the second-largest green turtle rookery in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), exhibits year-round nesting activity with significant intra- and interannual variation. Analysis of 32 years of data (1980–2011) reveals a clear unimodal pattern during 1995–2011, peaking from April to June, while the timing of peak nesting at two primary sites diverged by over a month, suggesting spatial or environmental influences. The 1997–1998 ENSO event disrupted normal cycles but coincided with record-high nesting levels in 2000–2001. Comparative analysis across five WIO rookeries suggests an inverse relationship between peak nesting dates and latitude, hinting at temperature-driven seasonality. This study provides critical insights into the reproductive ecology of green turtles, emphasizing the need for region-specific conservation strategies.

Mortimer, J. A. (2012). Seasonality of Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Reproduction at Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles (1980–2011) in the Regional Context of the Western Indian Ocean. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 11(2), 170–181. https://doi.org/10.2744/ccb-0941.1