Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Study of Behavioral Responses of Hawksbill Sea Turtle Babies to Artificial Light in the Coast of Kish Island

Document Type : Original Manuscript

Abstract
Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) as endangered species on the southern coast of Iran, is facing numerous threats that significantly reduced this rare species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavior of Hawksbill babies in artificial light. This study was done in the sandy protected beach in Kish Island, Persian Gulf. The effects of light on sea turtle babies with two treatments were examined. According to region conditions, the first treatment is flashing, directly and horizontal light (represents the lights of the cars that crossing from backshore road) and the second treatment is indirect, vertical light (indicator the lights of lamps in the road). Data of each treatment were compared by using paired T-test. The result of T-test in first treatment showed, significant difference between the number of sea turtle babies who deviated by flashing lights. However, the result of T-test in second treatment showed, there is no significant difference between the number of sea turtle babies who deviated by vertical lights. As a result, lamps of crossing car are more destructive than vertical lamps of road. Of course, both of them are destructive and should adopt the management solutions to reduce the light sources particularly lights of crossing cars.
Keywords

Subjects


Bourgeois, S., Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromontb, Anne Viallefont, Franc¸ois Boussamba and Sharon L. Deem. 2009. Influence of artificial lights, logs and erosion on leatherback sea turtle hatchling orientation at Pongara National Park, Gabon. Biological conservation, 142: 85–93.
Choi, G.Y. and K.L. Eckert. 2009. Manual of Best Practices for Safeguarding Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches. Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) Technical Report No. 9. Ballwin, Missouri. 83p.
Deda, P. & ELBERTZHAGEN, I. & KLUSSMANN, M., 2007. Light Pollution and the Impatics on Biodiversity, Species and their Habitats (UNEP-CMS).
Mortimer, Jeanne & Marydele Donnelly. 2008. Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Marine Turtle Specialist Group 2008 IUCN Red List status assessment. http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Salmon, M., 2006. Artificial night lighting and sea turtles. In: Biologist, 50 [4]: 163-168.
Tuxbury S. M. and Salmon M. 2005. Competitive interactions between artificial lighting and natural cues during seafinding by hatchling marine turtles. Biological Conservation 121.  311–316.
Varela-Acevedo, Eckert K. L., Eckert, S. A., Cambers, G. and Horrocks J. A. 2009. Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Characterization Manual. P.46-97. In: Examining the Effects of Changing Coastline Processes on Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Nesting Habitat, Master’s Project, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University. Beaufort, North Carolina USA.
Witherington B.E. and Martin, R. E.1996. Understanding, Assessing, and Resolving Light-Pollution Problems on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches. FMRI Technical Report TR-2.
Volume 14, Issue 4
Winter 2016
Pages 57-64

  • Receive Date 10 July 2013
  • Revise Date 17 November 2014
  • Accept Date 19 November 2014
  • Publish Date 20 February 2016