title: Reproductive biology and genetic diversity of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Vamizi island, Mozambique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vamizi, an Island located in the Western Indian Ocean, is visited by a small and not fully characterized green turtle (Chelonia mydas (L.)) population. This population is threatened by natural hazards and several human activities, which are used to identify conservation priorities for marine turtles. It was our aim to contribute to the knowledge of marine turtles that nest in Vamizi, with respect to its regional management, and to an area that may possibly be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its potential Outstanding Universal Value.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we evaluate the nesting parameters (incubation period, clutch size, hatching and emergence successes rates) and patterns over an 8-year (2003 - 2010) conservation program. We also present the results of genetic diversity based on the analysis of approximately an 850 pb fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that Vamizi beaches host a small number of nesting females, approximately 52 per year, but these have shown a reduction in their length. High hatching success (88.5 ± SD 17.2%, N = 649), emergence success rates (84.5 ± SD 20.4%, N = 649) were observed, and genetic diversity (N = 135), with 11 haplotypes found (7 new). It was also observed, in the later years of this study, a reduction in the incubation period, a dislocation of the nesting peak activity and an increase in the number of flooded nests and an increase of the number of nests in areas with lower human activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some resilience and behavioral plasticity seems to occur regarding human territory occupancy and climate changes. However, regardless of the results, aspects like what seems to be the reduction of some cohorts, the number of flooded nests and the diminishing of the incubation period (East and South facing beaches), show that conservation efforts have to be improved.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia e CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anastácio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia e CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Maluane - Cabo Delgado Conservation and Tourism, Pemba, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Cardoso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia e CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia e CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.affiliation: Maluane - Cabo Delgado Conservation and Tourism, Pemba, Mozambique ; Lúrio University, Nampula, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrão
authors.affiliation: The Zological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY UK.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia e CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal ; AFPR - A For Plankton Research, 3800-365 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pereira
keywords: Chelonia mydas; Climate changes; Mozambique Channel (MZC); Reproductive behavior; mtDNA diversity