Download Possible Effects of Renourished Beach

Impacts of Artificial
Lighting on the Survival of
Sea Turtles
Michael Slattery
Why should it matter?
• All 6 species of sea turtle that nest in
North America are either Endangered
or Threatened.
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
Nest survival
• Where they get deposited
• Predation
• Disease
Hatching success
• 80% of the eggs hatch
• Upon emergence they’ll orient themselves
to the brightest light field.
• Only 1 in 1000 hatchlings make it to
adulthood and reproduce
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.
Several possible outcomes
• Depends on the magnitude of
brightness
• Pick the wrong way
– Sunrise
– Swimming pools
– Cars
– Domestic animals
– Natural predators
What do you think?
• Low natural success
• Human impact
– Redirect lights
– Lower intensities
• Something should be done