Reproductive Biology of Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtles at Sandy Point, St. Croix: The First 30 Years

Abstract The nesting population of leatherback sea turtles at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR), Sandy Point, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, has been comprehensively studied since 1981. Nesting and hatching data are reported here for the first 30 yrs of the research and conservation project. Because of intense nest relocation and conservation efforts, the population initially showed a steady increase in numbers, with the most dramatic rise occurring between 1997 and 2001. In spite of continued efforts, however, this recovery began to stall in the decade from 2000 to 2010. Analysis of nesting data, including specific reproductive parameters such as recruitment rate, remigration interval, and productivity (number of nests laid, hatching success) during this time frame, in conjunction with historical data, provided an opportunity to assess the contribution of these factors to the population dynamics at Sandy Point. Annual reproductive data demonstrated that regardless of overall nesting numbers...