Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) Nests at High Latitudes in Italy: A Call for Vigilance in the Western Mediterranean

Abstract

Four new loggerhead turtle nest sites were discovered in 2006 and 2008 on Italian beaches at the northern limit of this species' nesting. Only 2 hatched, 1 with low success (33.3%) and 1 with a 92.2% success, whereas the other 2 failed to hatch after prolonged incubation (> 100 days), caused by low temperatures. Another 9 unusual loggerhead nests in the western Mediterranean have been recorded over the last decade, and because it is yet unclear what may be driving this behavior, further working is needed including establishing organized monitoring of potentially suitable beaches.