Reports and Studies 2014 Review: 1975 Environment of Kiawah Report | Page 24

Summary & Analysis of the 1975 Kiawah Environmental Report 

Another useful website for information on Kiawah loggerhead turtle is seaturtle.
org. (See specifically: www.seaturtle.org/nestdb/index.shtml?view_beach=54). As
of October 26, 2013, the following information is given for Kiawah:

Loggerhead Turtle Data (2013)*
Topic

Number

Unique females

143

Nests

399

Estimated eggs

42930

Hatched eggs

31421

Emerged hatchlings

28544

Mean incubation duration

57.4 days

Mean hatch success

72.8%

Mean emergence success

65.1%

Nest success

92.6%

Beach success

66.9%

* www.seaturtle.org/nestdb/index.shtml?view_beach=54)

One very interesting feature of the 2013 data is that the most significant reason
for nest and egg loss was thought to be coyote predation.
The leatherback sea turtle is the only federally "endangered" species that occurs
on the Kiawah Island beach. According to the 2012 Beach Management Plan, "South
Carolina has had 20 nests in the last 10 years (2003-2012), two of which were on
Kiawah Island. Leatherback nests that occur on Kiawah’s beach are marked and
monitored by the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol, following the same general protocol
used for loggerheads."

Reviewer Comments on the 1975 Report:
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Some of the conclusions are not based on efficient quantitative biological data.
The study is devoid of predator counts, egg counts in nests, and hatchling
release data.
An accurate sampling of rainfall in August 1974 was not gathered. This caused
100% mortality to nests that did not hatch before the copious rainfall.
Although tagging of nests began in 1973, it was admitted that there was an
improvement in turtle patrol techniques in 1974 & 1975. This resulted in a
higher number of emergences recorded.
The authors mention that nests were transported to a hatchery. However, no
information as to the location of a hatchery or any further history of the hatchlings was given.

Reviewer Suggestions for Future Research:
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K
 iawah's all-volunteer Turtle Patrol is an important asset for turtle conservation
and the acquisition of data. Their work needs continuing support from the
Town and other island organizations.
Habitat preservation must be a priority to preserve Kiawah's beach as a significant turtle rookery.

Revised: May 2014_REV 8

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