Fact or Fiction-Answers!
Now that you have better understanding of lights and their affects on sea turtles, it’s time for you to take the FACT or FICTION Quiz! Read the statements, answer FACT or FICTION, then scroll down to the bottom for the answers!
1. Light with wavelengths shorter than 580nm have negative impacts on sea turtles.
2. Buildings that are not on the beach directly but more inland, contribute to lighting pollution (Brunswick, for example) by having lights that waste precious light energy into the atmosphere, can not have any negative affect on sea turtles on the beach.
3. Flashlights, lanterns, fireworks and flash photography can have a negative impact on sea turtles.
4. Red cellophane on my flashlight means I can keep it turned on all the time and shine it right at a sea turtle without causing harm.
5. There are a number of lighting vendors that now provide a variety of choices to convert, modify or install turtle-friendly bulbs, fixtures and shields.
ANSWERS
1. LIGHTING FACT:
Think of a spectrum of light (i.e. a Rainbow).The longer wavelengths are the reds, oranges and yellows while the shorter wavelengths are the purples, blues and greens.
2. LIGHTING FICTION:
This statement is untrue. Research has proven that even on the darkest beach with not a single light in existence, ‘skyglow’ (light pollution visible by the “glowing” effect seen in the skies over many cities and towns as a dome of light) can mis-orient or dis-orient sea turtles hatchlings.(Bertolotti and Salmon 2005)
3. LIGHTING FACT:
These lights, on average, emit shorter than 580nm wavelengths making them harmful to sea turtles. Lights with red LED lights are an exception as long as the number of LED diodes per unit are kept to a minimum.
4. LIGHTING FICTION:
This statement is also untrue. Although having red cellophane (2 layers minimum) is helpful in decreasing the amount of white light on the beach, it doesn’t change the wavelength of the flashlight itself. At minimum any flashlight, if not fitted with a pure red or amber filter or red LED lights, should have 2 layers of red cellophane and be used for ‘spot checking’ rather than being turned on all the time. NO LIGHT SHOULD EVER BE SHINED AT A TURTLE’S HEAD.
5. LIGHTING fACT:
That’s right! Lighting vendors have found a new niche to fill and have welcomed it with open-arms! Florida has led the pack when it comes to researching lighting, it’s effects on sea turtles and solutions to the problem. For a list of turtle-friendly approved vendors, fixtures, bulbs and/or shields by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as passing the test to turtle-friendliness, click on this link: http://www.myfwc.com/seaturtle/Lighting/SeaTurtle_PrvslyApprvdCoastalFixtures_7-08.pdf
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