Study of Behavioral Responses of Hawksbill Sea Turtle hatchlings to Artificial Light in the Coast of Kish Island

Abstract

Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) as endangered species on the southern coast of Iran, is facing numerous threats that significantly reduced this rare species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavior of Hawksbill hatchlings in artificial light. This study was done in the sandy protected beach in Kish Island, Persian Gulf. The effects of light on sea turtle hatchlings with two treatments were examined. The first treatment included flashing, directand horizontal light (represents the lights of the cars that cross from backshore road) and the second treatment included indirect, vertical light (similar to the street lights). Data of each treatment were compared by using paired T-test. The result of T-test in first treatment showed, significant difference between the number of sea turtle hatchlings deviated by flashing lights. However, in the second treatment there was no significant difference between the number of sea turtle hatchlings deviated by vertical lights. of the results showed that light from cars are more destructive than light from street lamps.