@article{fdi:010091016,
  title = {{I}nnovative monitoring scheme adapted to remote, scattered nesting aggregation reveals a major loggerhead turtle rookery in {N}ew {C}aledonia, {S}outh {P}acific},
  author = {{B}ourgogne, {H}ugo and {O}remus, {M}. and {M}angeas, {M}organ and {V}idal, {E}ric and {G}irondot, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he loggerhead turtle {C}aretta caretta is a large marine turtle with a cosmopolitan repartition in warm and temperate waters of the planet. {T}he {S}outh {P}acific subpopulation is classified as '{C}ritically {E}ndangered' on the {IUCN} {R}ed {L}ist, based on the estimated demographic decline. {T}his precarious situation engages an urgent need to monitor nesting populations in order to highlight conservation priorities and to ensure their efficiency over time. {N}ew {C}aledonia encompasses a large number of micro and distant nesting sites, localized on coral islets widely distributed across its large lagoon. {A}dequately surveying nesting activities on those hard-to-reach beaches can prove to be challenging. {A}s a result, important knowledge gaps prevail in those high-potential nesting habitats. {F}or the first time, an innovative monitoring scheme was conducted to assess the intensity of nesting activities, considered as a proxy of the population size, on an exhaustive set of islets located in the '{G}rand {L}agon {S}ud' area. {T}hese data were analyzed using a set of statistical methods specially designed to produce phenology and nesting activity estimates using {B}ayesian methods. {T}his analysis revealed that this rookery hosts a large nesting colony, with a mean annual estimate of 437 nests (95% {C}redible {I}nterval = 328-582). {T}hese numbers exceed that of the previous estimated annual number of loggerhead turtle nests in {N}ew {C}aledonia, highlighting the exceptional nature of this area. {C}onsidering the fact that similar high-potential aggregations have been identified in other parts of {N}ew {C}aledonia, but failed to be comprehensively assessed to this day, we recommend carrying out this replicable monitoring scheme to other locations. {I}t could allow a significant re-evaluation of the {N}ew {C}aledonian nesting population importance and, ultimately, of its prevailing responsibility for the protection of this patrimonial yet endangered species.},
  keywords = {{NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE} ; {PACIFIQUE} {SUD}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {O}ne},
  volume = {19},
  numero = {6},
  pages = {e0299748 [14 p.]},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0299748},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091016},
}