Effect of moisture, temperature, and maternal influence on the hatching, phenotype, and performance of hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata

Hawksbill turtles are considered Critically Endangered. An understanding of how nest microenvironment (moisture and temperature) maternal characteristics can influence embryonic development, hatching success, phenotype, hatchling performance is needed to ensure effective conservation management. We undertook controlled egg incubations at different temperatures relative humidities. Additionally, we sampled natural nests with data loggers, humidity the sand depth, determine conditions that eggs experienced naturally. varied (RSH) percentages (30, 50, 75, 100%) a constant incubation temperature 29.5°C. also assessed 25, 29.5, 34°C 75% RSH. Incubation 29.5°C resulted in successful (73.3%), whereas 25 prevented hatching. However, occurred even between 34 36°C, provided were exposed these <20% entire period incubation, only towards end incubation. Controlled 30% RSH linearly affected hatchlings: incubated 100% had greatest success produced heaviest, largest, fastest hatchlings. correlated positively depth on beach, so ≥75% ensured average (~39.2 cm), resulting (74.3 ± 34.7%). The showed hydric most significant impact phenotype (size weight), performance. Maternal characteristics, however, slightly less important. These results suggest moisture should be taken into consideration hawksbill turtle projects. thermal environments by developing embryos when evaluating climate change affects marine turtles.