Environmental factors determine the suitability of the incubation environment of sea
turtles, having a profound impact on embryonic survival. Limited information is
available on new emerging nesting sites of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the
Western Mediterranean, raising concerns about their long-term. This study aimed to
determine how environmental factors, temperature, tidal washovers, and rainfall affect
hatching success (HS) in loggerhead turtles in the Campania Region, Italy, identified as
a hotspot for Western Mediterranean colonization. Data was collected from 54 nests
during the 2023 nesting season (June-September). Unhatched eggs were analyzed to
determine embryonic mortality stages. The average HS was 59.3 ± 36.8%. HS varied
with the characteristics of tidal washover and rainfall events, nest relocation status, and
location. Nests in the Domitian-Phlegrean littoral (DPL) were more likely to fail after two
tidal floodings and severe washovers, while nests on the Cilento coast (CC) could
remain viable within two to five events. Mortality of early (63.8 – 100%) and late-stage
embryos (10.9 – 38.1%) indicate these stages as highly vulnerable to tidal washovers
and rainfall. This study highlights the need for location-specific conservation strategies
and further research to ensure the long-term viability of emerging nesting sites under
changing climate conditions.
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