Nesting ecology and preservation of sea turtles in the Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area, Northeast Brazil

Aiming to provide data to support the protection of sea turtles (e.g. National Action Plan for the Conservation of Sea Turtles – PAN Turtles, Sustainable Development Goals, Life in Water, SDG 14), this study investigates ecological aspects related to nest choice and reproductive success of sea turtles. To do this, we monitored 12 beaches along the coastal zone of the Parnaíba River Delta during the breeding seasons of sea turtles from 2019 to 2022. We selected some environmental descriptors, in addition to nest size and incubation period, to investigate how these variables influence nest choice and hatching success. In all, 68.653 hatchlings of five species reached the ocean, predominantly Eretmochelys imbricata (95%). Based on the monitoring of 801 nests, the beach’s slope, as well as the presence of rocky areas and wind farms, affect nest size. Reproductive success varied depending on the distance between the nest and vegetation, the incubation period, and the presence of wind farms. The Parnaíba River Delta appears to be an important area for reproducing sea turtles. In this sense, conservation strategies must be developed in light of the vulnerability of the region’s nesting beaches, which are considered highly sought-after tourist attractions.