Egg mortality is one of the main factors affecting life history and conservation of oviparous species. A massive and cryptic colonisation of many leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs is presented in the most important rookery for the species in Gabon. A total of 163 nests were exhumed at Kingere beach, revealing that only 16.7% of eggs produced hatchlings. In the 59% of the nests, more than half of the eggs were dead and attacked by invertebrates and 94% had at least one egg affected by invertebrates. The rate of eggs and SAGs (yolkless eggs) affected by invertebrates within a clutch ranged from 0% to 100%, with an average proportion of 39% and 52%, respectively. The most common invertebrates interacting with the eggs were ghost crabs and insects that affected 51% and 82% of the nests, respectively. Crab and insect co-occurred in 33% of the affected nests. Ants, identified as Dorylus spininodis (Emery 1901) were found in 56% of the excavated nests. However, it was not possible to determine if the ants predated alive eggs or scavenged dead eggs. Very often, hundreds of ants were found dead within dead eggs. Termites and other invertebrates were associated with the clutch environment and identified as opportunistic feeders. An unusual ecological interaction within the leatherback clutches between termites and ants was found in 11% of the nests. The abrupt transition between the soil forest and the beach might be favouring a thriving microbial and invertebrate activity in the sand profile that colonises the nests.

中文翻译：

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蚂蚁和白蚁在世界上最大的棱皮龟栖息地大规模栖息的隐秘巢穴

鸡蛋死亡率是影响卵生物种生活史和保护的主要因素之一。许多棱皮龟（Dermochelys coriacea）卵的大规模和隐秘的定殖出现在加蓬最重要的物种栖息地。在 Kingere 海滩共挖掘出 163 个巢穴，表明只有 16.7% 的蛋能孵化出雏鸟。在 59% 的巢穴中，超过一半的卵死亡并受到无脊椎动物的攻击，94% 的巢中至少有一个卵受到无脊椎动物的侵害。一窝无脊椎动物对鸡蛋和无蛋黄蛋的影响率在0%到100%之间，平均比例分别为39%和52%。与卵相互作用的最常见无脊椎动物是鬼蟹和昆虫，它们分别影响了 51% 和 82% 的巢穴。33% 的受影响巢穴中同时出现螃蟹和昆虫。在 56% 的挖掘出的巢穴中发现了被确定为 Dorylus spininodis (Emery 1901) 的蚂蚁。然而，无法确定蚂蚁是否早于活卵或清除死卵。很多时候，数百只蚂蚁被发现死在死蛋中。白蚁和其他无脊椎动物与离合器环境有关，并被确定为机会性饲养者。在 11% 的巢穴中发现了白蚁和蚂蚁之间棱皮龟之间不寻常的生态相互作用。土壤森林和海滩之间的突然过渡可能有利于栖息在巢穴的沙地剖面中微生物和无脊椎动物的活跃。无法确定蚂蚁是否早于活卵或清除死卵。很多时候，数百只蚂蚁被发现死在死蛋中。白蚁和其他无脊椎动物与离合器环境有关，并被确定为机会性饲养者。在 11% 的巢穴中发现了白蚁和蚂蚁之间棱皮龟之间不寻常的生态相互作用。土壤森林和海滩之间的突然过渡可能有利于栖息在巢穴的沙地剖面中微生物和无脊椎动物的活跃。无法确定蚂蚁是否早于活卵或清除死卵。很多时候，数百只蚂蚁被发现死在死蛋中。白蚁和其他无脊椎动物与离合器环境有关，并被确定为机会性饲养者。在 11% 的巢穴中发现了白蚁和蚂蚁之间棱皮龟之间不寻常的生态相互作用。土壤森林和海滩之间的突然过渡可能有利于栖息在巢穴的沙地剖面中微生物和无脊椎动物的活跃。在 11% 的巢穴中发现了白蚁和蚂蚁之间棱皮龟之间不寻常的生态相互作用。土壤森林和海滩之间的突然过渡可能有利于栖息在巢穴的沙地剖面中微生物和无脊椎动物的活跃。在 11% 的巢穴中发现了白蚁和蚂蚁之间棱皮龟之间不寻常的生态相互作用。土壤森林和海滩之间的突然转变可能有利于栖息在巢穴的沙地剖面中的微生物和无脊椎动物活动蓬勃发展。