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 ar e placed in dense vegetation. The nocturnal seafinding behaviour of le atherback and green sea turtle hatchlings in the vegetation was compar ed to that in the open bench. Groups of hatchlings of each species wer e tested in one of two orientation arenas. open sand or dense vegetati on. 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 th e vegetation moved more slowly from the center to the perimeter of the arena. Implications for relocation as a conservation tool are discuss ed.