10.1016/s0967-0653(97)85668-2

Abstract

We monitored nesting of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus)
\non Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals, in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from
\n1986 through 1991. Egg oviposition occurred between 26 April and 20 October.
\nNesting peaked between mid-June and early August. Hatchlings emerged between
\n8 July and 27 December. Hatchling emergence peaked between mid-August and
\nearly October. Mean incubation period was 66.0 (range 53-97) days. Mean clutch
\nsize was 92.4 (range 33-150) eggs. Mean hatching success was 78.6% when averaged
\nover success of individual nests and 81.1% when calculated as percentage of total
\nnumber of eggs. Natural hatchling emergence was 71.1 %, based on percentage of
\ntotal number of eggs. Live and dead hatchlings were found when nests were excavated
\nand accounted for 10.0% of the eggs. Incubation periods tended to be longer
\nin early and late portions of the season than in midseason, and incubation periods
\ntended to decrease the farther inland the nest was situated from the high tide line.
\nMaximum hatching success occurred at an incubation length of 66.7 days. Other
\ntrends indicated that nesting peaked near 5 July when conditions produced a near
\noptimal incubation period for yielding maximum hatching success.