Spatial and Temporal Trends of Sea Turtle Nesting on Hutchinson Island, Florida, 1971–1979

Nesting activity of loggerhead sea turtles is summarized for five nesting surveys since 1971. Nine sample areas on Hutchinson Island, Florida, were used to calculate that over 4,500 nests are deposited annually in a density gradient that increases toward the south end of the island. Factors that might influence the formation of this gradient are discussed.

Since 1971, there have been continuing increases in the numbers of non-laying crawls in proportion to the number of nests produced. This trend may be related to beach disturbance or development of the island and could portend a nesting decrease. To date, the behavior of tagged turtles has exhibited no change in renesting interval or renesting distance.