Date of Award
1996
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Salmon, Michael
Abstract
Hatchling loggerhead sea turtles emerge from their nests on oceanic beaches, crawl to the surf zone, and swim out to sea. How do turtles maintain oriented headings once they lose contact with land? I tested the hypothesis that by swimming into surface waves hatchlings establish an offshore heading (directional preference), and that once out to sea this heading is transferred to, and maintained by, a magnetic compass. This hypothesis was supported by laboratory and field experiments, described herein. A directional preference can also be established by oriented crawling (from the nest to the surf zone). Thus hatchlings possess two mechanisms (crawling and swimming) for the establishment of an offshore heading. The use of these alternative mechanisms probably assures that turtles escape from shore under the broad range of conditions which they naturally encounter after emerging from their nests.
Extent
43 p.
Recommended Citation
Goff, Matthew Douglas, "magnetic compass of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta L.): Can surface waves establish magnetic directional preference?" (1996). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 1990 - 1999. 956.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_4/956
Identifier
FADT15285
Comments
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1996.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1996.