Beach profiling and ghost crab densities on a hawksbill turtle nesting beach in the Seychelles

Increasing beach sediment loss from erosion and high levels of crab Ocypode spp. predation are threatening turtle nests nesting habitat. The 900 m long on Cousine Island, Seychelles, supports a population approximately 70–130 hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata each season. Seasonal storm-related accretion cycles Island have the potential destroying 50% or more all egg clutches island in single Observed rates had reached 90–100% preferred zones previous years. This has resulted intensive management measures to minimise nest losses. We investigated distribution density ghost crabs morphology across different area turtle-nesting season during 2014–2015. Crab burrow numbers varied between zone areas were highest backshore. correlated negatively with available area, we found that increased presence nests. When examining dynamics, them be cyclical prone higher than significant changes width throughout mean vertical elevation drop was what turtles been reported prefer. suggest continuation monitoring use data assist translocations losses maximise hatchling recruitment success.