Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) of the north-western Arabian Gulf, Kuwait: the need for conservation

摘要: This study provides the first ever baseline data on reproductive ecology and genetic identification of endangered green turtle, Chelonia mydas, in north-western Arabian Gulf, Kuwait. Two offshore islands were surveyed for nesting turtles 2004 2005. The findings reveal that (nest numbers, season, incubation period, clutch size, hatching success) by off Kuwait coast is comparable with C. mydas worldwide. At Umm Al-Maradim Island, no nested during 2005 because excavation dredging activities associated construction a coastguard dock. Mitochondrial DNA control region sequences 97 revealed six haplotypes, which five have not previously been reported from rookeries adjoining regional waters or adjacent oceans; this signifies possibility them being novel to region. Prudent management approaches, represented mainly rehabilitation restoration Island designation both foraging habitats as marine protected areas (MPAs), should be implemented national well policy-makers maintain region's native biological diversity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.