On sea turtle nesting beaches, artificial lighting associated with human development interferes with hatchling orientation from nest to sea. Although hatchling disorientation has been documented for many beaches, data that managers can use in understanding, predicting, and managing the issue are of limited detail. The present study provides baseline hatchling orientation data that can be compared to those from beaches with artificial lighting to prioritize light-management efforts there. In 2014, the precision of hatchling orientation was quantified for 87 nests on a naturally lighted beach that had little to no artificial lighting. Precision of hatchling orientation was regressed against seven environmental variables: beach slope, distance from nest to dune, dune height, apparent dune silhouette height relative to nest site, moon illumination percentage, cloud cover percentage, and relative humidity. Results favored a regression model that included distance from nest to dune, with shorter distances from the dune predicting a narrower angular range (i.e., greater precision) of hatchling orientation. The study confirmed findings of an earlier laboratory experiment that highlighted the importance to accurate hatchling orientation of a dark silhouette (dune) on the side of the nest site opposite the ocean side. Reducing artificial light and promoting the planting of pioneer plants that assist dune formation can increase hatchling survival.

在海龟筑巢的海滩上，与人类发育相关的人工照明会干扰从巢到海的孵化方向。尽管许多海滩上都有孵化场迷失方向的记录，但管理人员可用于理解，预测和管理问题的数据的细节有限。本研究提供了基线孵化方向数据，可以将其与使用人工照明的海滩的孵化方向数据进行比较，以优先考虑那里的光照管理工作。2014年，在自然采光的海滩上（几乎没有人工照明），对87个巢穴的孵化定位精度进行了量化。孵化方向的精度针对七个环境变量进行了回归：海滩坡度，巢穴到沙丘的距离，沙丘高度，相对于巢穴的表观沙丘轮廓高度，月球照度百分比，云量百分比和相对湿度。结果支持回归模型，该模型包括从巢到沙丘的距离，与沙丘的距离越短，则表明孵化方向的角度范围越窄（即，精度越高）。该研究证实了早期实验室实验的结果，该实验突出了准确定位巢穴一侧与海洋相对的一侧的黑色轮廓（沙丘）的准确孵化方向的重要性。减少人造光并促进辅助沙丘形成的先锋植物的种植可以提高孵化率。较高的精度）。该研究证实了早期实验室实验的结果，该实验突出了准确定位巢穴一侧与海洋相对的一侧的黑色轮廓（沙丘）的准确孵化方向的重要性。减少人造光并促进辅助沙丘形成的先锋植物的种植可以提高孵化率。较高的精度）。该研究证实了早期实验室实验的结果，该实验突出了准确定位巢穴一侧与海洋相对的一侧的黑色轮廓（沙丘）的准确孵化方向的重要性。减少人造光并促进辅助沙丘形成的先锋植物的种植可以提高孵化率。