Siddiolo Chiara, Rosso Antonietta, Orecchio Grazia, Lo Valvo Mario
University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia Pavia Italy.
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences University of Catania Catania Italy.
Ecol Evol. 2025 Apr 21;15(4):e71177. doi: 10.1002/ece3.71177. eCollection 2025 Apr.
This study aims to update and establish a comprehensive list of nesting sites in Sicily and its minor islands, investigate the distribution and environmental suitability of the loggerhead sea turtles' nesting in Sicily using spatial distribution models (SDMs), and perform a gap analysis considering the protected area network in Sicily. Location: Sicily (Italy). Time period: 1979-2022. Data on Loggerhead seaturtle's nests were collected through several sources, including literature, monitoring records from WWF's Progetto Tartarughe, reports from the local fauna haunting, online articles, referrals on websites and social networks often related to monitoring activities. GIS was used to realize distribution maps. Bioclimatic indicators were downloaded through Copernicus Climate Change Service. Predictors were eventually projected on the WorldClim's dataset. Suitability distribution models (SDMs) were realized using the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt software). 's nests distribution map and environmental suitability map were overlaid with the Natura 2000 sites map in Sicily. The results confirm that the main nesting areas are mostly concentrated along the southern and eastern coasts of Sicily, with increasing numbers observed over recent years. Additionally, global warming has made some beaches even more suitable along the north coast of the main island. The variable affecting this species the most is the Mean Temperature of the Coldest Quarter (Bio11). Overlaying nesting distribution and environmental suitability maps with Natura 2000 sites revealed significant portions of nests occurring outside protected areas, highlighting the need for expanded conservation efforts.The demographic increase of nesting events in Sicily is induced by a northward shift of the species distribution led by rising temperatures and probably due to climate change.
本研究旨在更新并建立西西里岛及其附属小岛筑巢地点的综合清单，利用空间分布模型（SDM）调查西西里岛蠵龟筑巢的分布情况和环境适宜性，并结合西西里岛的保护区网络进行差距分析。地点：西西里岛（意大利）。时间段：1979年至2022年。蠵龟巢穴数据通过多种来源收集，包括文献、世界自然基金会“蠵龟项目”的监测记录、当地动物栖息地报告、在线文章、网站和社交网络上常与监测活动相关的推荐信息。利用地理信息系统（GIS）绘制分布图。生物气候指标通过哥白尼气候变化服务下载。预测变量最终投影到世界气候数据集上。利用最大熵模型（MaxEnt软件）实现适宜性分布模型（SDM）。将蠵龟巢穴分布图和环境适宜性图与西西里岛的“自然2000”保护区地图叠加。结果证实，主要筑巢区域大多集中在西西里岛的南部和东部海岸，近年来数量呈上升趋势。此外，全球变暖使主岛北海岸的一些海滩变得更加适宜。对该物种影响最大的变量是最冷月平均温度（Bio11）。将筑巢分布和环境适宜性图与“自然2000”保护区地图叠加显示，大量巢穴位于保护区之外，这突出表明需要加大保护力度。西西里岛筑巢事件的人口统计学增长是由气温上升导致的物种分布向北转移引起的，可能是气候变化所致。
