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Seafinding orientation of hatchlings exposed to filtered lighting: Effects of varying beach conditions

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Date Issued:
2001
Summary:
Under normal conditions, hatchling sea turtles crawl toward the ocean but streetlights placed on coastal roadways can attract the turtles toward land. Two light filters were designed to exclude the shorter light wavelengths most attractive to turtles. I did laboratory tests to determine if green turtle and loggerhead hatchlings oriented normally ("seaward") in the presence of filtered lighting. Light passed through either filter (#2422 acrylic and NLW) attracted the turtles unless coastal cues (an elevated horizon) were strong or background (full moon) illumination was present. Green turtles and loggerheads responded differently to the same filters, indicating that neither filter provided adequate protection for both species. I conclude that these filters fail to protect the turtles. Conventional forms of light control (shielding and/or lowering light fixtures, decreasing wattage, or turning off problem lights) remain the best way to shield turtles from the harmful effects of artificial lighting.
Title: Seafinding orientation of hatchlings exposed to filtered lighting: Effects of varying beach conditions.
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Name(s): Tuxbury, Susan Mary.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Salmon, Michael, Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2001
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 63 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Under normal conditions, hatchling sea turtles crawl toward the ocean but streetlights placed on coastal roadways can attract the turtles toward land. Two light filters were designed to exclude the shorter light wavelengths most attractive to turtles. I did laboratory tests to determine if green turtle and loggerhead hatchlings oriented normally ("seaward") in the presence of filtered lighting. Light passed through either filter (#2422 acrylic and NLW) attracted the turtles unless coastal cues (an elevated horizon) were strong or background (full moon) illumination was present. Green turtles and loggerheads responded differently to the same filters, indicating that neither filter provided adequate protection for both species. I conclude that these filters fail to protect the turtles. Conventional forms of light control (shielding and/or lowering light fixtures, decreasing wattage, or turning off problem lights) remain the best way to shield turtles from the harmful effects of artificial lighting.
Identifier: 9780493238807 (isbn), 12804 (digitool), FADT12804 (IID), fau:9679 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2001.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Sea turtles
Light pollution
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12804
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.