(RoSTI) ANNUAL REPORT 2003 - WIDECAST

RoSTI Annual Report 2003
Franklin, Byrne and Eckert (2004)
Chart 4. 2003 Documented Activity by Species by Location in Rosalie Bay, Dominica.
25
Number of Activities
20
15
10
5
0
Rosalie Beach La Plaine Beach
Looking more closely at the data reported in Table 3 (indicating a nearly equal number of confirmed and
“suspected” nests, as compared to false crawls), we see that the percentage of “suspected nests” was high
because Rosalie Bay is an area with a significant amount of Leatherback activity. It is difficult and often
impractical to confirm Leatherback nests in comparison to the smaller species of turtles, due to the depth
of the Leatherbacks’ nests and the extent of their disguising activities. The number of confirmed nests
was logically higher at Rosalie Beach, compared with La Plaine, because of the emphasis on night-time
beach patrol at Rosalie Beach and therefore higher rates of encounter with noctural nesting females.
At La Plaine “false crawls” accounted for some 59% of all cases, a figure 10% higher than for Rosalie
Beach (Table 5; Chart 5). The reasons for this most likely reflect physical beach characteristics.
Table 5. 2003 Nesting Results by Beach in Rosalie Bay, Dominica.
Rosalie Beach La Plaine Beach
Number % Number %
Confirmed Nests 08 20.5 02 06.2
Suspected Nests 13 33.3 11 34.4
False Crawls 18 46.2 19 59.4
Total 39 100.00 32 100.00
18
Leatherback
Hawksbill
Green