This study analyzed the possible influences of nest site on hatch success and incubation duration of Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) in the south of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Geomorphologically, the nest site on Guanabara beach, in Anchieta (ES), may be divided into open beach and berm. During four nesting seasons, data on sediment size, nest height from sea level, geomorphological compartmentation of the beach, date of laying, number of living hatchlings and clutch size were collected. Results showed variations of the main sediment parameters between the years, indicating that nesting seasons should be analyzed individually. Hatch success was not affected by nest site characteristics. Incubation duration did not vary between beach and berm, despite the significant differences in sediment size, nest depth and height from sea level. Incubation duration correlated positively with sediment size, with nests in coarser sediments hatching earlier than the ones in finer sediments. Since nest characteristics influence incubation duration, it is recommended that nest transfers, when inevitable, respect the differences between nest sites, especially, concerning nest depth.
Loggerhead sea turtle; Nest; Beach; Berm
