Geomagnetic Orientation Behavior of Migratory Sea Turtles

海龟幼崽从海底沙滩上的地下巢穴中钻出来，爬向大海，然后游向开阔的海洋，整个迁徙过程持续数天。在迁徙过程中，小海龟会迅速确定向海的路线，即使游到看不到陆地的地方，它们也会保持这个方向。关于小海龟如何在没有明显标志的广阔海洋中保持直线飞行，人们知之甚少。最近的实验表明，来自佛罗里达州大西洋海岸的孵化红海龟可以探测到地球的磁场，并将其作为指导迁徙的线索。罗曼博士的实验旨在研究新发现的海龟幼龟的磁罗盘感，并深入了解海龟如何利用磁线索进行导航。所有种类的海龟现在不是濒临灭绝就是受到威胁。罗曼博士的研究有望为试图拯救濒临灭绝的海龟的保护工作者提供有用的信息。此外，它还有望帮助科学家了解其他迁徙动物（如鸟类、鱼类和鲸鱼）如何利用地球磁场的信息进行导航。

Sea turtle hatchlings emerge from underground nests on sandy oceanic beaches, scramble to the sea, and swim toward the open ocean in a migration lasting several days. During the migration, hatchlings quickly establish a seaward course, then hold this heading even after they swim beyond sight of land. Little is known about how hatchling sea turtles can maintain a straight course through a vast ocean that contains no obvious landmarks. Recent experiments have revealed that hatchling loggerhead sea turtles from the Atlantic coast of Florida can detect the magnetic field of the earth and use it as a cue to guide their migration. Dr. Lohmann's experiments are designed to study the newly discovered magnetic compass sense of sea turtle hatchlings and to provide insight into how sea turtles use magnetic cues in navigation. All species of sea turtles are now either endangered or threatened. Dr. Lohmann's research is expected to provide information useful to conservation workers trying to save sea turtles from extinction. In addition, it is expected to help scientists understand how other migratory animals (such as birds, fish, and whales) use information from the earth's magnetic field to navigate.