Population structure of hawksbill turtles on a foraging ground in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

A foraging hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) population in the southwestern Dominican Republic, at Jaragua National Park and Cabo Rojo, was predominantly composed of juveniles and sub-adults with a sex ratio heavily skewed towards females (2.7lzl). The population showed specific site fidelity and highly variable growth rates. The lack of adult hawksbill turtles in the area (even during the reproductive season) is noteworthy. The high density of immature turtles (up to 96.8 turtles/km2) encourage us to believe that these juvenile hawksbills, if protected, may successfully repopulate previously depleted areas.