Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The impact of coastline development on nesting sea turtles, nest contents,
and hatchlings was investigated in southeastern Florida. There were
95-128 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests per mile on six miles of beach.
Seventeen green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests were found. Nesting females
did not avoid lighted, developed beaches in favor of undeveloped beaches.
Hatchling emergence bearings were measured at 397 nests, and ambient
light intensities were correlated with the incidence of misorientation. Most hatchlings emerging where artificial light sources were visible
were misoriented inland. From 0-96% of misoriented hatchlings were killed
by automobiles, ghost crabs, or dessication. Mortality was greatest
where hatchlings were able to enter roadways, and lowest where barriers
prevented this. Analysis of post-emergence contents of 422 nests
revealed that mortality within nests was greater on soft beaches with
large-grained sand than on fine-grained, firmer beaches, and was increased
by human footfalls and beach-cleaning machinery.
and hatchlings was investigated in southeastern Florida. There were
95-128 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests per mile on six miles of beach.
Seventeen green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests were found. Nesting females
did not avoid lighted, developed beaches in favor of undeveloped beaches.
Hatchling emergence bearings were measured at 397 nests, and ambient
light intensities were correlated with the incidence of misorientation. Most hatchlings emerging where artificial light sources were visible
were misoriented inland. From 0-96% of misoriented hatchlings were killed
by automobiles, ghost crabs, or dessication. Mortality was greatest
where hatchlings were able to enter roadways, and lowest where barriers
prevented this. Analysis of post-emergence contents of 422 nests
revealed that mortality within nests was greater on soft beaches with
large-grained sand than on fine-grained, firmer beaches, and was increased
by human footfalls and beach-cleaning machinery.
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