INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE BASIS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIORAL POLYMORPHISM IN LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA

Abstract

Lepidochelys olivacea are well known for their spectacular synchronized mass nesting emergences commonly known as arribadas. Arribadas occur at only a few beaches worldwide, however the nesting range for this species extends far beyond these few select beaches. For example, in the eastern Pacific, arribadas occur annually at one beach in Mexico and two beaches in Costa Rica from June through December. During the same time, solitary L. olivacea emerge individually to nest along nearly the entire coastline from Mexico to Panama. Two clearly distinct reproductive behaviors exist within the genus as well as within populations; some females are solitary nesters, while others are arribada nesters. Very little is known about this reproductive behavioral polymorphism and how it is maintained in populations.