From Australian Oceans Data Network
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Artificial light on water attracts turtle hatchlings during their nearshore transit, Western Australia

Created 23/06/2025

Updated 23/06/2025

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Examined the effect of artificial light on the nearshore trajectories of turtle hatchlings dispersing from natal beaches. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings were tagged with miniature acoustic transmitters and their movements tracked within an underwater array of 36 acoustic receivers placed in the nearshore zone. A total of 40 hatchlings were tracked, 20 of which were subjected to artificial light during their transit of the array. At the same time, we measured current speed and direction which were highly variable within and between experimental nights and treatments. Artificial lighting affected hatchling behaviour, with 88% of individual trajectories oriented towards the light and spending, on average, 23% more time in the 2.25ha tracking array (19.5 ± 5 mins) than under ambient light conditions (15.8 ± 5 mins). Current speed had little to no effect on the bearing (angular direction) of the hatchling tracks when artificial light was present, but under ambient conditions, it influenced the bearing of the tracks when current direction was offshore and above speeds of ~32.5 cm s-1. This is the first experimental evidence that wild turtle hatchlings are attracted to artificial light after entering the ocean, a behaviour that is likely to subject them to greater risk of predation. The experimental protocol described in this study can be used to assess the effect of anthropogenic (light pollution, noise etc.) and natural (wave action, current, wind, moonlight) influences on the in-water movements of sea turtle hatchlings during the early phase of dispersal.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Artificial light on water attracts turtle hatchlings during their nearshore transit, Western Australia
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/3f2b3079-0dc3-4161-8c46-772f507df45c
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
reception@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 30/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    114.06796574592592,
    -21.828536303106052
  ],
  "type": "Point"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Artificial light on water attracts turtle hatchlings during their nearshore transit, Western Australia". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/artificial-light-on-water-attracts-turtle-hatchlings-during-their-nearshore-transit-western-aus