Open AccessCAPTIVE BREEDING OF THE GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas)
Author(s) -
Wood James R.,
Wood Fern E.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
proceedings of the annual meeting ‐ world mariculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0164-0399
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1977.tb00142.x
Subject(s) - captivity , hatchling , biology , captive breeding , zoology , population , turtle (robot) , sea turtle , fishery , reproduction , stock (firearms) , ecology , endangered species , hatching , demography , geography , sociology , habitat , archaeology
Captive breeding and nesting activity of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) occurring at a commercial sea turtle farm in the Cayman Islands is described. Isolation of reproductively active pairs facilitates successful mounting among the captive breeding population. A minimum sustained period of mounting (200 or more minutes) appears necessary for fertilization, although there is no quantitated correlation between length of mounting and hatchability. Ovulation appears to be independent of copulation as females that have had no observed mounting will lay infertile nests. Infertility is the primary cause for low hatchabilities rather than embryonic death. Females reared in captivity, from egg to sexual maturity, have laid eggs producing hatchlings. Management of the breeding stock to achieve the maximum productivity will enable all commercial stock to be obtained from eggs laid and hatched on the farm by 1980.