How do sea turtles know where to return to lay eggs?
Quick Answer
Sea turtles appear to use Earth's magnetic field as a navigational map. Many females return to the general region of the beach where they hatched.
The Full Story
Sea turtles travel enormous distances through the ocean, yet many adults come back to the same coastal region to nest. Scientists think they use Earth's magnetic field as a kind of biological map and compass. Hatchlings may imprint on the magnetic signature of their birth beach and later use it to navigate back. Different species show different nesting fidelity, but the homing behavior is remarkably strong. This makes conservation of nesting beaches especially important.
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