Leatherback hatchling sea-finding in response to artificial lighting: Interaction between wavelength and moonlight

Marga L. Rivas, Pilar Santidrián Tomillo, Javier Diéguez Uribeondo, Adolfo Marco. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Volume 463, February 2015, Pages 143-149. Over the last decades, growing human populations have led to the rising occupation of coastal areas over the globe causing light pollution. For this reason, it is important to assess how this impact threatens endangered wildlife. Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) face many threats of anthropogenic origin including light pollution on nesting beaches. However, little is known about the specific effects. In this study we studied the effect of different light wavelengths (orange, red, blue, green, yellow and white lights) on hatchling orientation under the presence and absence of moonlight by analyzing: (i) the mean angle of orientation, (ii) crawling duration, and (iii) track patterns. Leer más.