"We're certainly concerned about the loggerheads because this is such an important nesting area for them," said Erik Martin, a biologist at Ecological Associates, which monitors the nesting patterns in Martin and St. Lucie counties. "It's something that certainly needs to be looked into."

The trend is evident throughout the state, but especially is noticable from Brevard to Palm Beach counties, where 80 percent of the sea turtle nesting takes place in Florida.

"You can't really pinpoint the low numbers of loggerhead nesting to any one thing," said Rick Herren, the sea turtle coordinator for Indian River County. "Perhaps there is a true population decrease in the number of adult loggerheads."

Starting about April 15 and ending with the last hatching of the final nest, Treasure Coast scientists ride all-terrain vehicles to document and mark the clutches of turtle eggs that dot local beaches.

Last year was the first year Indian River County conducted a countywide monitoring program. Martin and part of St. Lucie counties have had consistent monitoring since 1981, the last year there were fewer loggerhead nests on Hutchinson Island.

Anne Meylan, a senior research scientist with Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, said state biologists were analyzing nesting data dating back to 1989 to document statistical changes in turtle nesting habits.

"That doesn't fix anything, but it alerts everyone to a potential problem out there," she said. "We are concerned about it, no doubt about it."

An unusual multiple stranding - with about 70 juvenile loggerhead turtles beaching themselves - occurred last week on the beaches from St. Augustine north to the Georgia border. Scientists think the deaths were caused by a toxin in the water, but studies are continuing.

Another impact on the loggerhead population took place over the last year, when hundreds of turtles washed ashore after being exposed to red tide blooms along the gulf coast, said Allen Foley, a wildlife biologist who coordinates the state's stranding network.

With 218 green sea turtles nesting at the St. Lucie Inlet State Preserve and the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, 2006 was a record year, Martin said.

Herren said he's already begun digging up nests that have hatched to determine how many hatchlings successfully emerged from the nests - and hopefully to the ocean.

"Even though we had a lower year for loggerhead nests, hatchling success has been high," Herren said. "How many hatchlings are produced on your beach, that's the bottom line."

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