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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