Light Pollution and Sea Turtles Nest-Site Selection. Is it Possible a Practical Management of the Problem?

Abstract

Artificial light at night (ALAN) pollution is a topic of growing concern globally, in particular along coasts where the number of cities is increasing. The problem is both economic and environmental, as in the case of the selection of the nesting site by the Caretta caretta sea turtles. In fact, even in a poorly lit municipality like Castiglione della Pescaia (Tuscany, Italy), 140 light sources have been identified near the beaches with different types of shielding and intensity. The localization and characterization of these night lighting sources was achieved through both field and satellite measurements. In this paper we propose a practical management of both the general and the specific problem of the case study with an approximate estimate of the costs involved in replacing the lamps with the greatest impact on the conservation of sea turtles.

Keywords: conservation; Italy; light pollution; nest-site selection; sea turtles; Tuscany