New research is having important implications for conserving a declining global turtle population.
Miniature accelerometers are being used to reveal new insights into the elusive period between turtles hatching and emerging above sand.
New research suggests that green turtle hatchlings ‘swim’ to the surface of the sand rather than ‘dig’ in the period between hatching and emergence.
Scientists from UNSW’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences used a small device — known as an accelerometer — to uncover novel findings into the behaviours of hatchlings as they emerge from their nests.
Sea turtle eggs are buried in nests 30 to 80cm deep. Once hatched, the newborn turtles make their way to the surface of the sand over three to seven days, but there is very little understanding of this journey.
The results showed that buried hatchlings maintained a head-up orientation and unexpectedly moved vertically through the sand by rocking forwards and backwards rather than tipping side-to-side as expected with digging.
PhD student Davey Dor said when turtles hatched, they had no way of knowing the direction to the sand’s surface.
“Yet, they will orientate themselves and move upwards regardless,” Mr Dor said.
“Our initial findings and ‘proof’ of this new methodology opens the door for so many new questions in sea turtle ecology.”
“How can you study something underground?”