The loggerheads of Cape Romain

Baldwin WP, Lofton JM

Published 1940

Permalink: http://library.seaturtle.org/4184
Submitted: 2009-04-26 12:48:19
Modified: 2009-04-26 12:48:19

 
16MB    

Abstract/Synopsis The large female turtle emerges from the night time surf and with great effort crawls to the dune line. She pauses. Then if satisfied with her circumstances, she uses her hind flippers to construct a deep hole in the beach and into this she lays her eggs. It is indeed awe inspiring to come upon one of the animals at its task, its breath sighing, eyes watering, body heaving. And on its back are bits of phosphorescent marine life blinking off and on. With luck a process has begun which will in the course of the summer lead to the next generation of loggerheads. Compared to other sea turtles, the Atlantic Loggerheads are moderate sized - about 30 inches across the carapace and weighing around 250 pounds. Relatively common, they are found in most of the wanner parts of the North and South Atlantic and even into the Mediterranean Sea. On our coast they nest from Texas to Virginia, but the U. S. Wildlife Refuge of Cape Romain, South Carolina, which is our study site is actually on the northem boundary of its normal nesting range. Over 600 nests a season are made on the beaches of the Cape's Bull Island, Raccoon Key, and Cape Island. These three islands are fypical sea islands. These barrier strips separate the ocean from the mainland, and in the process, form a protected area of marshes, creeks and bays. Bull Island has grown thick with a maritime forest of palmetto, cedar, and windblown oak but Cape Island and Raccoon Key are relatively bare. The dune vegetation of all three, however, is very similar with the commonest plants being sea oats, cord grass, and beach tea. As far as we can ascertain, the loggerhead nests on the Cape Romain beaches in gleater npmbers than anywhere else on the Carolina coast. Cape Island with five miles of front beach has 400 nests a season; Raccoon Key, with eight miles, has an estimated 200 nests; and Bull Island, about six and one-half miles long, has approximately 30 nests. Why Cape Island and Raccoon Key should be centers of such nesting activity is an interesting question. Cape Romain does project farther out than other beaches along the coast and may intercept the northern spring migration of breeding adults. The solitude of the refuge beaches may be another attractive feature partly responsible for the concentration. It is certainly evident that the increase in public activity at other beaches in this section has resulted in debreased turtle nesting there. Perhaps feeding conditions in Romain's bays and creeks are attractive to a high breeding population. The proximity of the vast discharge of fresh water from the Santee River may affect this food supply. Romain's loggerhead population today, however, is smaller than it was several decades ago. This, of course, is in accord with the recent numerical decline of this species throughout its range