Hatching failure is one of the threats to the declining sea turtle population. Sea turtle egg fusariosis, an emerging fungal disease, has been linked to lower hatching success in sea turtle nests. The disease is associated with the presence of members of the (Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). Samples of cloacal mucus, nest sand, eggshells, and eggs were collected from seven hawksbill turtles and their corresponding nests at Melaka’s nesting beaches and hatchery site. FSSC was prevalent in the unhatched eggs (n = 32) from the seven study nests, colonising 96.9%. The remaining eggs from the study nests were found to have high hatching success, with a mean of 85.8 ± 10.5% (n = 7). It is unknown if the presence of FSSC contributed directly to embryonic mortality in this study. There are two possible roles of FSSC in sea turtle eggs: as a saprophyte or a primary pathogen. The presence of FSSC in the nest did not always compromise the hatching success of the entire egg clutch. FSSC was not detected in the sand samples of all nests, even though all nests contained Fusarium-colonised eggs. The concentration of FSSC in the sand might influence the infection rate of sea turtle eggs and their hatching success. Best practices for hatchery must be in place to achieve high hatching success for sea turtle conservation.

• Ahmad, A., Zulkifli.T., Mahyam, M. I., Solahuddin, A. R., & Azman, Z. N. (2004). A guide to set-up and manage sea turtles hatcheries in the Southeast Asian Region. SEAFDEC/MFRDMD.

• Azliza, I. N., Hafizi, R., Nurhazrati, M., & Salleh, B. (2014). Production of major mycotoxins by Fusarium species isolated from wild grasses in Peninsular Malaysia. Sains Malaysiana, 43(1), 89-94.

• Bailey, J. B., Lamb, M., Walker, M., Weed, C., & Craven, K. S. (2018). Detection of potential fungal pathogens Fusarium falciforme and F. keratoplasticum in unhatched loggerhead turtle eggs using a molecular approach. Endangered Species Research, 36, 111-119. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00895

• Bézy, V. S., Valverde, R. A., & Plante, C. J. (2015). Olive ridley sea turtle hatching success as a function of the microbial abundance in nest sand at Ostional, Costa Rica. PLOS ONE, 10(2), Article e0118579. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118579

• Bykowski, T., & Stevenson, B. (2008). Aseptic technique. Current Protocols in Microbiology, 11, A.4D.1-A.4D.11. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780471729259.mca04ds11

• Cabañes, F. J., Alonso, J. M., Castellá, G., Alegre, F., Domingo, M., & Pont, S. (1997). Cutaneous hyalohyphomycosis caused by Fusarium solani in a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta L.). Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 35(12), 3343-3345. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.35.12.3343-3345.1997

• Cafarchia, C., Paradies, R., Figueredo, L. A., Iatta, R., Desantis, S., Di Bello, A. V. F., Zizzo, N., & van Diepeningen, A. D. (2020). Fusarium spp. in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): From colonization to infection. Veterinary Pathology, 57(1), 139-146. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985819880347

• Chan, E. H. (2006). Marine turtles in Malaysia: On the verge of extinction? Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 9(2), 175-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/14634980600701559

• Chan, E. H. (2013). A report on the first 16 years of a long-term marine turtle conservation project in Malaysia. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology, 2(2), 129-135.

• Chang, D. C., Grant, G. B., O’Donnell, K., Wannemuehler, K. A., Noble-Wang, J., Rao, C. Y., Jacobson, L. M., Crowell, C. S., Sneed, R. S., Lewis, F. M. T., Schaffzin, J. K., Kainer, M. A., Genese, C. A., Alfonso, E. C., Jones, D. B., Srinivasan, A., Fridkin, S. K., & Park, B. J. (2006). Multistate outbreak of Fusarium keratitis associated with use of a contact lens solution. Journal of the American Medical Association, 296(8), 953-963. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.296.8.953

• Couchman, O., Wulffeld, E., Muurmans, M., Steer, M., & Fanning, E. (Eds.). (2009). Sea turtle monitoring: Methods manual (Report no. 4). Society for Environmental Exploration UK, UNANLeón and LIDER Foundattion. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341368602_Sea_Turtle_Monitoring_Methods_Manual

• Elshafie, A., Al-Bahry, S. N., AlKindi, A. Y., Ba-Omar, T., & Mahmoud, I. (2007). Mycoflora and aflatoxins in soil, eggshells, and failed eggs of Chelonia mydas at Ras Al-Jinz, Oman. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 6(2), 267-270. https://doi.org/10.2744/1071-8443(2007)6[267:MAAISE]2.0.CO;2

• Gammon, M., Fossette, S., McGrath, G., & Mitchell, N. (2020). A systematic review of metabolic heat in sea turtle nests and methods to model its impact on hatching success. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8, Article 556379. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.556379

• García, A., Ceballos, G., & Adaya, R. (2003). Intensive beach management as an improved sea turtle conservation strategy in Mexico. Biological Conservation, 111(2), 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00300-2

• Heithaus, M. R. (2013). Predators, prey, and the ecological roles of sea turtles. In J. Wyneken, K. J. Lohmann, & J. A. Musick (Eds.), The Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume III (pp. 249-284). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b13895

• Howard, R., Bell, I., & Pike, D. A. (2014). Thermal tolerances of sea turtle embryos: Current understanding and future directions. Endangered Species Research, 26, 75-86. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00636

• IUCN. (2021). The IUCN red list of threatened species. Version 2021-1. International Union for Conservation of Nature’s. https://www.iucnredlist.org

• Keene, E., Soule, T., & Paladino, F. (2014). Microbial isolations from Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and East Pacific Green (Chelonia mydas agassizii) sea turtle nests in Pacific Costa Rica, and testing of cloacal fluid antimicrobial properties. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 13(1), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1051.1

• Leslie, J. F., & Summerell, B. A. (2006). The Fusarium laboratory manual. Blackwell Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470278376

• Lindborg, R., Neidhardt, E., Witherington, B., Smith, J. R., & Savage, A. (2016). Factors influencing loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) reproductive success on a mixed use beach in Florida. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 15(2), 238-248. https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1206.1

• Miller, J. D. (1999). Determining clutch size and hatching success. In K. L. Eckert, K. A. Bjorndal, F.A. Abreu-Grobois, & M. Donnelly (Eds.), Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles (pp. 124-129). IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

• Miller, J. D., Mortimer, J. A., & Limpus, C. J. (2017). A field key to the developmental stages of marine turtles (Cheloniidae) with notes on the development of Dermochelys. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 16(2), 111-122. https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1261.1

• Moreira, P. L., & Barata, M. (2005). Egg mortality and early embryo hatching caused by fungal infection of Iberian rock lizard (Lacerta monticola) clutches. The Herpetological Journal, 15(4), 265-272.

• Mortimer, J. A. (1999). Reducing threats to eggs and hatchlings: Hatcheries. In K. L. Eckert, K. A. Bjorndal, F.A. Abreu-Grobois, & M. Donnelly (Eds.), Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles (pp. 175-178). IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

• Mutalib, A. H. A., & Fadzly, N. (2015). Assessing hatchery management as a conservation tool for sea turtles: A case study in Setiu, Terengganu. Ocean & Coastal Management, 113, 47-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.05.010

• Nelson, P. E., Toussoun, T. A., & Marasas, W. F. O. (1983). Fusarium species: An Illustrated Manual for Identification. The Pennsylvania State University Press.

• Neves, M. S. C., Moura, C. C. D. M., & Oliveira, L. G. D. (2015). Mycobiota from the eggs, nests and stillbirths of Eretmochelys imbricata Linneus 1766 (Testudines: Cheloniidae) in Pernambuco State, Brazil. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 9(17), 1195-1199. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJMR2015.7389

• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. (2006). Handbook for sea turtle volunteers in North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. http://www.seaturtle.org/PDF/NCWRCNorthCarolinaWildlifeResourcesCommission_2006_HandbookforseaturtlevolunteersinNor.pdf

• Patino-Martinez, J., Marco, A., Quiñones, L., Abella, E., Abad, R. M., & Diéguez-Uribeondo, J. (2012). How do hatcheries influence embryonic development of sea turtle eggs? Experimental analysis and isolation of microorganisms in leatherback turtle eggs. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology, 317A(1), 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.719

• Phillott, A. D. (2002). Fungal colonisation of sea turtle nests in Eastern Australia [Doctoral dissertation, Central Queensland University]. Central Queensland University’s Institutional Repository, ACQUIRE. https://acquire.cqu.edu.au/articles/thesis/Fungal_colonisation_of_sea_turtle_nests_in_eastern_Australia/13426184/1

• Phillott, A. D. (2004). Penetration of the eggshell and invasion of embryonic tissue by fungi colonising sea turtle eggs. Herpetofauna, 34(1), 44-47.

• Phillott, A. D., & Parmenter, C. J. (2001). The distribution of failed eggs and the appearance of fungi in artificial nests of green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles. Australian Journal of Zoology, 49(6), 713-718. https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO00051

• Phillott, A. D., & Shanker, K. (2018). Best practices in sea turtle hatchery management for South Asia. Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter, 27, 31-34.

• Phillott, A. D., Parmenter, C. J., & McKillup, S. C. (2006). Calcium depletion of eggshell after fungal invasion of sea turtle eggs. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 5(1), 146-149. https://doi.org/10.2744/1071-8443(2006)5[146:CDOEAF]2.0.CO;2

• Phillott, A. D., Parmenter, C. J., Limpus, C. J., & Harrower, K. M. (2002). Mycobiota as acute and chronic cloacal contaminants of female sea turtles. Australian Journal of Zoology, 50(6), 687-695. https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO01057

• Pike, D. A., Roznik, E. A., & Bell, I. (2015). Nest inundation from sea-level rise threatens sea turtle population viability. Royal Society Open Science, 2(7), Article 150127. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.150127

• Rebell, G. (1981). Fusarium infections in human and veterinary medicine. In P. E. Nelson, T. A. Toussoun, & R. J. Cook (Eds.), Fusarium: Diseases, Biology and Taxonomy (pp. 210-220). The Pennsylvania State University Press.

• Rings, C. C., Rafferty, A. R., Guinea, M. L., & Reina, R. D. (2015). The impact of extended preovipositional arrest on embryonic development and hatchling fitness in the flatback sea turtle. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 88(2), 116-127. https://doi.org/10.1086/677951

• Salleh, S. M., & Sah, S. A. M. (2014). Hatching success and nesting depth of Chelonia mydas (family: Cheloniidae) in eggs relocation programme at Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysian Applied Biology, 43(2), 59-70.

• Salleh, S. M., Nishizawa, H., Sah, S. A. M., & Safri, M. F. (2018). Spatiotemporal preferences in nesting of the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Melaka, Malaysia. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 98(8), 2145-2152. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315417001734

• Sarmiento-Ramírez, J. M., Abella, E., Martín, M. P., Tellería, M. T., López-Jurado, L. F., Marco, A., & Diéguez-Uribeondo, J. (2010). Fusarium solani is responsible for mass mortalities in nests of loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, in Boavista, Cape Verde. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 312(2), 192-200. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02116.x

• Sarmiento-Ramírez, J. M., Abella-Pérez, E., Phillott, A. D., Sim, J., van West, P., Martín, M. P., Marco, A., & Diéguez-Uribeondo, J. (2014). Global distribution of two fungal pathogens threatening endangered sea turtles. PLOS ONE, 9(1), Article e85853. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085853

• Short, D. P. G., O’Donnell, K., Thrane, U., Nielsen, K. F., Zhang, N., Juba, J. H., & Geiser, D. M. (2013). Phylogenetic relationships among members of the Fusarium solani species complex in human infections and the descriptions of F. keratoplasticum sp. nov. and F. petroliphilum stat. nov. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 53, 59-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2013.01.004

• Sidique, S. N. M., Azuddin, N. F., & Joseph, J. (2017). First report of Fusarium species at nesting sites of endangered sea turtles in Terengganu and Melaka, Malaysia. Malaysian Applied Biology, 46(3), 195-205.

• Smyth, C. W., Sarmiento-Ramírez, J. M., Short, D. P. G., Diéguez-Uribeondo, J., O’Donnell, K., & Geiser, D. M. (2019). Unraveling the ecology and epidemiology of an emerging fungal disease, sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF). PLOS Pathogens, 15(5), Article e1007682. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1007682

• Sukarno, W., Ridzuan, M. A. M., Zabawi, S. M., Najib, R. M., Aziim, M. Y. A., Mansor, Y., Azwa, A. H., Farizan, S., Khasah, M. M. K., Robert, L. H. F., Karim, S. A., Zakaria, S., Abdullah, S. A. K. S., Zulkifli, T., Wahidah, M. A., Wahab, A. A., & Fahiezah, S. N. (2007). Prosedur piawaian pengurusan penyu Semenanjung Malaysia [Standard operating procedure of sea turtle management in Peninsular Malaysia]. Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia.

• Summerell, B. A., Salleh, B., & Leslie, J. F. (2003). A utilitarian approach to Fusarium identification. Plant Disease, 87(2), 117-128. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.2003.87.2.117

• Trullas, S. C., & Paladino, F. V. (2007). Micro-environment of olive ridley turtle nests deposited during an aggregated nesting event. Journal of Zoology, 272(4), 367-376. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00277.x

• Wyneken, J., Burke, T. J., Salmon, M., & Pedersen, D. K. (1988). Egg failure in natural and relocated sea turtle nests. Journal of Herpetology, 22(1), 88-96. https://doi.org/10.2307/1564360

• Zhang, N., O’Donnell, K., Sutton, D. A., Nalim, F. A., Summerbell, R. C., Padhye, A. A., & Geiser, D. M. (2006). Members of the Fusarium solani species complex that cause infections in both humans and plants are common in the environment. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 44(6), 2186-2190. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00120-06