Case study data 2022: The effects of dune plant roots on loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nest success

Sand dunes are supported by the extensive root systems of dune plants that anchor the dune and protect it from erosion. While all plants that grow on the dunes support their structure, invasive plants can outcompete native and non-native dune plants for resources such as nutrients, sunlight, and space to grow. During the summer, sea turtles lay nests on beaches and near dunes; however, their eggs and hatchlings are at risk of destruction and entrapment by dune plant root penetration. Dune plant roots can penetrate sea turtle nest cavities, thus decreasing the hatching success of the eggs and the emergence success of the hatchlings. The purpose of this project was to determine how plant roots impact loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nest success on Casey Key, Sarasota County, Florida, USA, and to assess which factors affect plant root invasion. We predicted (1) a negative impact on loggerhead sea turtle nests by plant roots, (2) invasive plants have a larger impact than native or n..., Raw case study data was collected by excavating loggerhead sea turtle nests and identifying surrounding plants in 2022., , # Case study data 2022: The effects of dune plant roots on loggerhead turtle (*Caretta caretta*) nest success

## General Information

The raw data presented in Redding et al. (2024) are included. This study aimed to understand the impact of dune plant roots on the eggs of threatened loggerhead sea turtles. Data per nest, including zone number, location, distance to the dune and the high water mark (m), excavation date, nest chamber measurements (cm), vegetation and root presence, egg status counts, and hatch and emergence successes, are included in the file 'ReddingRootsCaseStudy22.csv'. Please review methods in Redding et al. (2024) for information on data collection.

Year Collected: 2022
Species: Loggerhead (*Caretta caretta*) sea turtles
Collection site: Casey Key, Florida (93 nests)

## Data

**ReddingRootsCaseStudy22.csv**

A. NestID - Nest identification number
B. ZoneID - Zone of nest locations
C. Lat - Latitude of nest
D. Long - Longitude of nest
E. ExDate - Excavation date
F....