BEACH VEGETATION AND SEAFINDING ORIENTATION OF TURTLE HATCHLINGS

In Suriname, leatherback Dermochelys coriacea and green Chelonia mydas sea turtle eggs laid below the high ride line are routinely relocated to safer ground by local conservation workers. Some of these nests are placed in dense vegetation. The nocturnal seafinding behaviour of leatherback and green sea turtle hatchlings in the vegetation was compared to that in the open bench. Groups of hatchlings of each species were tested in one of two orientation arenas. open sand or dense vegetation. In both species, those tested in the open arenas oriented strongly towards the ocean. Turtles placed in the vegetation either showed no significant orientation or oriented away from the ocean. Animals in the vegetation moved more slowly from the center to the perimeter of the arena. Implications for relocation as a conservation tool are discussed.