Path Metrics to be Measured

 

Figure showing simplistic representation (with 3 paths) of expected differences in high versus mid/high light areas. Low light areas are depicted in figures a) and high light areas are shown in figures b) for the three main metrics of hatchling measurements. The panel illustrating bearing shows how the paths of hatchlings in low light pollution areas will have little variability and will head more directly towards the ocean (wavy line), whereas under high light conditions due to beachfront light pollution path variability will be great and some paths will likely lead away from the ocean. The panel illustrating speed shows that low light pollution hatchlings will move rapidly towards the ocean completing longer paths at the same time interval after nest departure, whereas high beachfront light pollution hatchlings will have shorter paths due to stimuli conflicts between the ocean light and beachfront sources. Multiple light sources will cause reorientation and course changes and slower path progression. Sinuosity, under low light conditions will be low, whereas under high beachfront light pollution conditions again stimuli conflicts causing reorientation will generate more sinuous paths. Under very high beachfront light pollution intensities we expect that speed and sinuosity may look like paths in a) with hatchlings more focused and efficiently moving towards artificial light sources but in directions all away from the ocean.