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effects of filtered high-pressure sodium lighting on hatchling loggerhead (Caretta caretta L.) and green turtle ( Chelonia mydas L.) hatchlings

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Date Issued:
2003
Summary:
Hatchling sea turtles use visual cues to orient to the water. Streetlights placed on coastal roadways can attract the turtles inland. Filters were designed to be used with coastal roadway lighting to eliminate the more harmful wavelengths of light. I tested the General Electric 2422 and NLW filters in a laboratory setting with hatchling loggerhead and green turtles. Both species of turtles were attracted to the amber filtered lighting in arena experiments. Loggerhead hatchlings were used in T-maze experiments where they were given a choice between amber filtered and unfiltered lighting. The turtles preferred the unfiltered lighting to the filtered lighting, even when it was 100 to 1000 times dimmer. I conclude that amber filtered lighting does afford some protection to sea turtles, although it must be used in conjunction with other light management techniques to prevent the disruption of hatchling turtle orientation.
Title: The effects of filtered high-pressure sodium lighting on hatchling loggerhead (Caretta caretta L.) and green turtle ( Chelonia mydas L.) hatchlings.
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Name(s): Nelson, Kristen Ann
Florida Atlantic University, Degree Grantor
Salmon, Michael, Thesis Advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2003
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 54 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Hatchling sea turtles use visual cues to orient to the water. Streetlights placed on coastal roadways can attract the turtles inland. Filters were designed to be used with coastal roadway lighting to eliminate the more harmful wavelengths of light. I tested the General Electric 2422 and NLW filters in a laboratory setting with hatchling loggerhead and green turtles. Both species of turtles were attracted to the amber filtered lighting in arena experiments. Loggerhead hatchlings were used in T-maze experiments where they were given a choice between amber filtered and unfiltered lighting. The turtles preferred the unfiltered lighting to the filtered lighting, even when it was 100 to 1000 times dimmer. I conclude that amber filtered lighting does afford some protection to sea turtles, although it must be used in conjunction with other light management techniques to prevent the disruption of hatchling turtle orientation.
Identifier: 9780496179190 (isbn), 12982 (digitool), FADT12982 (IID), fau:9850 (fedora)
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2003.
Subject(s): Loggerhead turtle
Green turtle
Lighting--Environmental aspects
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12982
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.
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.