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magnetic compass of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta L.): Can surface waves establish magnetic directional preference?
- Date Issued:
- 1996
- Summary:
- Hatchling loggerhead sea turtles emerge from their nests on oceanic beaches, crawl to the surf zone, and swim out to sea. How do turtles maintain oriented headings once they lose contact with land? I tested the hypothesis that by swimming into surface waves hatchlings establish an offshore heading (directional preference), and that once out to sea this heading is transferred to, and maintained by, a magnetic compass. This hypothesis was supported by laboratory and field experiments, described herein. A directional preference can also be established by oriented crawling (from the nest to the surf zone). Thus hatchlings possess two mechanisms (crawling and swimming) for the establishment of an offshore heading. The use of these alternative mechanisms probably assures that turtles escape from shore under the broad range of conditions which they naturally encounter after emerging from their nests.
Title: | The magnetic compass of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta L.): Can surface waves establish magnetic directional preference?. |
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Name(s): |
Goff, Matthew Douglas Florida Atlantic University, Degree Grantor Salmon, Michael, Thesis Advisor |
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Type of Resource: | text | |
Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
Issuance: | monographic | |
Date Issued: | 1996 | |
Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
Extent: | 43 p. | |
Language(s): | English | |
Summary: | Hatchling loggerhead sea turtles emerge from their nests on oceanic beaches, crawl to the surf zone, and swim out to sea. How do turtles maintain oriented headings once they lose contact with land? I tested the hypothesis that by swimming into surface waves hatchlings establish an offshore heading (directional preference), and that once out to sea this heading is transferred to, and maintained by, a magnetic compass. This hypothesis was supported by laboratory and field experiments, described herein. A directional preference can also be established by oriented crawling (from the nest to the surf zone). Thus hatchlings possess two mechanisms (crawling and swimming) for the establishment of an offshore heading. The use of these alternative mechanisms probably assures that turtles escape from shore under the broad range of conditions which they naturally encounter after emerging from their nests. | |
Identifier: | 15285 (digitool), FADT15285 (IID), fau:12056 (fedora) | |
Note(s): | Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1996. | |
Subject(s): |
Loggerhead turtle Sea turtles--Orientation Animal navigation |
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Held by: | Florida Atlantic University Libraries | |
Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15285 | |
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. |