Publication:
Orientation of leatherback turtle hatchlings, Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1961), at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands

dc.contributor.advisor Alfaro, Mónica
dc.contributor.author Villanueva-Mayor, Violeta
dc.contributor.college College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences en_US
dc.contributor.committee González Lagoa, Juan G.
dc.contributor.committee Lewis, Allen R.
dc.contributor.department Department of Biology en_US
dc.contributor.representative Alston, Dallas E.
dc.date.accessioned 2018-11-10T13:45:31Z
dc.date.available 2018-11-10T13:45:31Z
dc.date.issued 2003
dc.description.abstract Leatherback hatchling orientation was assessed for the first time at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR), US Virgin Islands. The median angle and range of tracks, moon condition, and date were recorded shortly after hatchling emergences. Experiments recording individual crawl-directions were also conducted during no moon and full moon conditions. Data were analyzed using circular statistical procedures with a significance level of 0.05. When the moon was not visible, hatchling dispersion was significantly wider throughout the entire beach. Furthermore, where lights were directly visible, hatchlings significantly deviated from a straight path to the sea toward those lights. Consequently, hatchlings were exposed to additional predation and used up energy needed for their offshore migrations. The critical times for orientation disruption were given for a lunar month and critical areas for hatchling management were identified. A comprehensive light-management strategy was recommended. en_US
dc.description.abstract La orientación de las crías de laúd se valoró por primera vez en el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre de Sandy Point (RNVSSP), Islas Vírgenes de Estados Unidos. La mediana y el rango de las huellas, las condiciones de la luna y la fecha se registraron poco después de las emergencias. También se realizaron experimentos registrando la dirección de las crías durante condiciones de luna llena y sin luna. Los datos se analizaron usando procedimientos estadísticos para datos circulares con un nivel de significancia de 0.05. Cuando no había luna la dispersión de las crías fue significativamente más amplia en toda la playa. Además, cuando las luces artificiales fueron visibles directamente, las crías se desviaron del camino directo al mar en dirección a esas luces. Como consecuencia, las crías estuvieron más expuestas a la depredación y consumieron energía necesaria para la migración hacia aguas profundas. Se proporcionaron las horas críticas de desorientación para el mes lunar y se identificaron las áreas críticas para el manejo de crías. Se recomendó un plan completo para el manejo de las luces. en_US
dc.description.graduationYear 2003 en_US
dc.description.sponsorship US Fish and Wildlife Service Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources US National Park Service Earthwatch Institute, Sea Grant College Program of the University of Puerto Rico, Department of Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Ocean Planet Inc. (Financial support) en_US
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11801/1141
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.rights.holder (c) 2003 Violeta Villanueva-Mayor en_US
dc.rights.license All rights reserved en_US
dc.subject Artificial lighting en_US
dc.subject Dermochelys coriacea en_US
dc.subject Leatherback hatchlings en_US
dc.subject Orientation disruption en_US
dc.subject Sea turtles en_US
dc.subject US Virgin Islands en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Leatherback turtle--U.S. Virgin Islands. en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Sea turtles--U.S. Virgin Islands. en_US
dc.title Orientation of leatherback turtle hatchlings, Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1961), at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands en_US
dc.type Thesis en_US
dspace.entity.type Publication
thesis.degree.discipline Biology en_US
thesis.degree.level M.S. en_US
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