Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Mäthger, L. M., Lohmann, K. J., Limpus, C. J., & Fritsches, K. A. (2011). An unsuccessful attempt to elicit orientation responses to linearly polarized light in hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (caretta caretta). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 366(1565), 757–762.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (27 Mar 2011 16:16:43 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Mthger2011 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Caretta, Caretta caretta, Cheloniidae, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Sehvermögen = vision Creators: Fritsches, Limpus, Lohmann, Mäthger Collection: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
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| Abstract |
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Sea turtles undertake long migrations in the open ocean, during which they rely at least partly on magnetic cues for navigation. In principle, sensitivity to polarized light might be an additional sensory capability that aids navigation. Furthermore, polarization sensitivity has been linked to ultraviolet (UV) light perception which is present in sea turtles. Here, we tested the ability of hatchling loggerheads (Caretta caretta) to maintain a swimming direction in the presence of broad-spectrum polarized light. At the start of each trial, hatchling turtles, with their magnetic sense temporarily impaired by magnets, successfully established a steady course towards a light-emitting diode (LED) light source while the polarized light field was present. When the LED was removed, however, hatchlings failed to maintain a steady swimming direction, even though the polarized light field remained. Our results have failed to provide evidence for polarized light perception in young sea turtles and suggest that alternative cues guide the initial migration offshore.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |