A New Method to Assess the Light Pollution on Loggerhead Hatchlings from La Roche Percée Rookery, New Caledonia

Abstract

La Roche Percée, in New Caledonia, is the second most important nesting site for the south Pacific loggerheads turtle’s population (Caretta caretta) after Eastern Australian rookeries. Light pollution is a worldwide issue on nesting beaches due to coastal development and can impact hatchlings sea turtles finding ability. This study focused on the assessment of light pollution on hatchlings at La Roche Percée. Measurements of hatchlings fans were performed on 82 emergences, only 7% of them were considered as being disrupted and almost all of the disrupted emergences were located in the first beach section, during highly moon illumination. Dispersion fan angles from La Roche Percée were comparable to natural emergences observed at Mon Repos beach, Australia. La Roche Percée beach could be considered as not disturbed by light pollution despite the human population currently leaving close to the nesting site, however periodic light such as vehicle headlights, may impact hatchlings’ orientation during their beach crawl.