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I am a masters student studying green sea turtle population genetics at National Taiwan Ocean University. I've worked in turtle conservation since 2007 - in Canada, Costa Rica, Taiwan and the United States. Let's talk turtles!

Thursday 10 April 2014

Rookery Profile: WangAn Island

English name: WangAn Island

Chinese name: 望安嶼 (Wang-An-Dao)


View Larger Map Location: 23°21′25.4N 119°30′1.2 E

Sand type: Coral

Studied since: 1992

Predominant species: This island is home to the largest intensively-studied green turtle nesting population in Taiwan.

Interesting facts:
- Many local residents are small-scale farmers of fishermen.
- The WangAn Green Turtle Tourism and Conservation Centre was established here in 2002, and contains housing and laboratory facilities for researchers, as well as a natural history museum for the public.
- Hawksbill turtles have been observed in the waters around this island, but have not been seen nesting.
- Many ancient Japanese colonial houses remain intact on the island.
- Brown sugar cakes are a local delicacy special to this island.

Selected readings:

Roden SE, Morin PA, Frey A, Balazs GH, Zarate P, Cheng I-J, Dutton PH. Green turtle population structure in the Pacific: new insights from single nucleotide polymorphisms and microsatellites. Endang Spec Res. 20: 227-234

Cheng I-J, Dutton PH, Chen C-L, Chen H-C, Chen Y-H, Shea, J-W. 2008. Comparison of the Genetics and Nesting Ecology of Two Green Turtle Rookeries in Taiwan. J Zoology 276(4): 375-384.(SCI)

Chen, H-C., Cheng, I-J., Hong E. 2007. The influence of the beach environment on the digging success and nest site distribution of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas on Wan-an Island, Penghu Archipelago, Taiwan. J. Coastal Res. 23(5): 1277-1286.(SCI)

Cheng, I-J. 2000. Post-nesting migrations of green turtles at Wan-An Island, Penghu Archipelago, Taiwan. Mar. Biol. 137: 747-754.

Chen, T-H. and Cheng, I-J. 1995. Breeding biology of the green turtle,Chelonia mydas, (Reptilia: Cheloniidae) on Wan-An Island, Peng-Hu Archipelago, Taiwan. I. Nesting ecology. Mar. Biol. 124: 9-15.

Wang, H-C and Cheng, I-J. 1999. Breeding biology of the green turtle,Chelonia mydas, (Reptilia: Cheloniidae) on Wan-An Island, Peng-Hu Archipelago, Taiwan. II. Nest site selection. Mar. Biol. 133: 603-609.

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