Impacts of Artificial Lighting on the Survival of Sea Turtles

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Impacts of Artificial Lighting on the Survival of
Sea Turtles

• Michael Slattery

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Why should it matter?

• All 6 species of sea turtle that nest in North
  America are either Endangered or Threatened.

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Nesting

• Generally they nest every 1-3 years
• Females always return to the beach from which
  they hatched
• They may lay multiple clutches.
• Hatch after 6-13 weeks of incubation

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Nest survival

• Where they get deposited
• Predation
• Disease

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Hatching success

• 80 of the eggs hatch
• Upon emergence theyll orient themselves to the
  brightest light field.
• Only 1 in 1000 hatchlings make it to adulthood
  and reproduce

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Human activities can compound the problem

• 53 of the US. Population lives within 60 miles
  of the Coast.
• This requires significant infrastructure.
• The beaches are very economically valuable to the
  US.

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Several possible outcomes

• Depends on the magnitude of brightness
• Pick the wrong way
• Sunrise
• Swimming pools
• Cars
• Domestic animals
• Natural predators

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What do you think?

• Low natural success
• Human impact
• Redirect lights
• Lower intensities
• Something should be done