|
|
 |
Do
embedded roadway lights protect sea turtles?
|
|
Street
lighting on coastal roadways is often visible at sea turtle
nesting beaches, and disrupts the nocturnal orientation
of hatchlings as they crawl toward the sea. Studies were
undertaken to determine whether an alternative lighting
system (light-emitting diodes, embedded in the roadway pavement)
prevented orientation disruption.
Hatchlings at the beach oriented normally when only the
embedded lights were on, or when all lighting was switched
off.
However, turtles showed poor orientation when street lighting
was on. Measurements confirmed that street lighting was
scattered to the beach, whereas embedded lighting was not.
|
Disoriented
hatchlings killed under streetlight.
Grand Cayman. Photo courtesy CIDoE and MCS Uk
|
We
conclude that embedded lighting keeps the beach dark and
thus protects sea turtles. However, on two overcast evenings,
lighting ("skyglow") from nearby development,
reflected by cloud cover to the beach, weakened hatchling
orientation. Thus, both indirect (reflected) and direct
sources of lighting negatively impact the turtles.
Sources: Bertolotti, L. and Salmon, M. (2005) “Do
embedded roadway lights protect sea turtles?” Environmental
Management, Vol: 36(5), 702-10.
|
|
|
 |
