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Assessing the Impacts of Human Activities on Nesting of Loggerhead Sea-turtles (Caretta caretta L.) on Zákynthos Island, Western Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Margarita Arianoutsou
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of Ecology, Division of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Thessaloniki, 540 06 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Extract

The island of Zákynthos, in western Greece, supports the most important nesting biotope of the endangered Loggerhead Sea-turtle (Caretta caretta) within Europe. The evaluation of the impacts of human activities, such as beach-use by people, lights, noise, and traffic, on its nesting habitats revealed that they are running out of time under the pressure of rapid and massive tourist development. It is therefore essential for the protection of this unique species to conserve its nesting biotope. This implies adequate, ecologically sound management, which might well be ensured through the establishment of a Marine Park.

Type
Main Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1988

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