ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF SEA TURTLE NESTING GROUNDS BASED ON PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ALONG THE COAST OF KRETEK DISTRICT, BANTUL REGENCY, YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIARini Fathoni Lestari, Muhammad Kamal and Pramaditya WicaksonoAbstract In the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the quality of its southern coastal waters has been degrading due to land-use changes, including the logging of coastal plants to provide spaces for agricultural land. It is a factor contributing to the destruction of sea turtle habitat, narrowing the potential location for landing. This study aims to analyze the distribution of sea turtle nesting grounds based on the physical characteristics of the coastal area of the Kretek District. It employed a purposive sampling technique to collect field data, particularly by determining the samples based on the updated nesting grounds. At these sites, observations and data recording were carried out according to the parameters studied, namely slope gradient, land cover/use, soil temperature, air temperature, and humidity. The results showed that the identified sea turtle nesting grounds included Pelangi, Cemara Sewu, Barchan, and Parangkusumo Beaches. The species of sea turtles found on the coastline of the district were olive ridley or gray sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea). Although generally, this coast had similar physical characteristics, there were differences in the number of nesting grounds between one beach and the others, with the highest identified on Pelangi Beach (43 locations). Most sea turtles use areas in the shade of vegetation to nest, while other nests are in vegetation-free areas or an open and long stretch of sand with gently sloping ground and far distance to built-up and agricultural land. |