101 smoothed by the convergence of all four models towards a significantly higher feminization risk in the RP beach than in the GLS area. The GLS area has been recognized only recently as a major nesting area for the critically endangered South Pacific subpopulation of loggerhead turtles (Bourgogne et al. 2024c). However, another recent study also suggested a strong male-mediated gene flow between loggerhead turtles from the RP and the GLS, as shown by the absence of population genetic differentiation based on highly variable molecular markers (Bourgogne et al. 2024a). Under these circumstances, the prejudicial deficit of male hatchlings at the RP could be mitigated by the significant male production in the GLS. The GLS habitat characteristics would thus stand as a substantial buffer potential in a global warming context, as it would sustain a viable reproductive output at the scale of this recently identified Management Unit (Bourgogne et al. 2024a), defined as a functionally independent population (Wallace et al. 2010, 2011, 2023). However, it is difficult to conclude with certainty that the GLS nesting conditions actually reduce the risk of feminization at the scale of the genetic stock. Further assessment of the reproductive adults’ sex ratio on the mating courts could provide complementary understanding of the repercussions of hatchlings sex ratio imbalance upon the subpopulation reproductive output (Jensen et al. 2018). Considering the concerning feminization risk reported by Read et al. (2013), mitigation measures have been taken on the RP beach in 2016 with the installation of shaded nurseries designed to cool down nest temperatures (Read et al. 2019a). Although this initiative allowed to moderately improve sex ratio balance on a set of relocated nests, it is time and resource consuming and it remains largely undersized to this day as only 5-8% of the nests benefit from it (Petit and Read 2017; Read et al. 2019a). While it is important to continue scaling up this conservation measure in the RP beach, our results highlight that the replication of such a strategy is not necessary yet in the GLS area because of the significant production of male hatchlings. Instead, they imply the necessity to improve the protection status of this area through reinforcement of dedicated legislations to improve actual nesting conditions or to prevent their deterioration. The GLS offers a moderate anthropogenic disturbance context due to its natural remoteness (Bourgogne et al. 2024a). Human presence on the islets is limited to small-scale touristic and recreational activities. Nevertheless, putative impacts of nocturnal human presence on the islets could be underestimated, especially considering the disturbance to nesting and incubating processes generated by the production of artificial lights, direct disturbance of the nesting females or the destruction of nests due to firecamps. Therefore, nocturnal access restrictions to the most important islets during the nesting season could represent a well-balanced management trade off, guaranteeing a maximized conservation benefits on one hand and a satisfying level of social and economic acceptability on the other
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