The Fethiye-Göcek Special Environmental Protection Area Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas) Monitoring and Protection Project, carried out by the General Directorate for the Protection of Natural Assets of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, continues.
Dr. Doğukan Mutlu from Üsküdar University's Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, along with department students, are also taking part in the project, which is led by Dr. Doğan Sözbilen.
Dr. Doğukan Mutlu: "The fact that the number of sea turtle nests in Fethiye has not decreased is encouraging for the population, but improvement efforts are needed; the information we collect will contribute to the development of conservation measures in the coming years."
The "Fethiye-Göcek Special Environmental Protection Area Sea Turtle Monitoring and Protection Project," carried out by the General Directorate for the Protection of Natural Assets of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, continues with strong academic participation from Üsküdar University.
Dr. Doğukan Mutlu from Üsküdar University's Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics is also participating in the project, which is led by Dr. Doğan Sözbilen from Pamukkale University. Additionally, students from Üsküdar University's Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics are voluntarily contributing to the project by actively participating in field studies.
With the sea turtle breeding season starting in May, nests are identified and protected in a total of 8.5 kilometers of sandy areas within Fethiye district. As the nesting period draws to a close, it has been reported that hatchlings emerging from the protected nests continue to reach the sea. Hatching and the process of reaching the sea are expected to continue until the end of September.
One of the four experts involved in the project is from Üsküdar University
Dr. Doğukan Mutlu, one of the four experts working on the project, stated that in addition to conservation activities, scientific studies aimed at predicting hatchling genders are also underway. Emphasizing that sea turtles do not have sex chromosomes and that the gender of hatchlings is determined by temperature, Dr. Mutlu said:
Climate change affects gender…
"High temperatures lead to the development of female hatchlings, while low temperatures result in male hatchlings. Previous studies on Fethiye beaches showed a higher production of male hatchlings compared to other parts of the Mediterranean. However, we believe this situation may change with climate change. Rising temperatures are estimated to lead to feminization of the population across the Mediterranean. Therefore, the continuous continuation of monitoring studies is of great importance."
Dr. Mutlu stated that Çalış, Yanıklar, and Akgöl beaches, where the studies are conducted, are official nesting sites, and in addition to these three areas, conservation activities are also being attempted in surrounding small coves and beaches.
Furthermore, emphasizing that the studies are carried out in cooperation with local communities, non-governmental organizations, and public institutions, Dr. Mutlu concluded:
"The fact that the number of sea turtle nests in Fethiye has not decreased is encouraging for the population, but improvement efforts are needed; the information we collect will contribute to the development of conservation measures in the coming years."