Question

How do green sea turtles navigate while swimming?

Answer 1

There are three main concepts to be considered. The concepts include electromagnetic induction, magnetic field

1. Electromagnetic induction: It is assumed that the sea turtles have electroreceptors. Although evidence has been found in other species such as rays and sharks, no evidence has shown that there are electroreceptors in sea turtles making this hypothesis invalid.

2. Magnetic field chemical reaction: Chemical reactions which is commonly found in a variety of species of newts and birds. The strength of the magnetic field affects the chemical reactions within the bodies of the newts and birds. Again, there is no supportive data for turtle.
3. Magnetite: It says, the magnetic crystals that form during the magnetic pulses from the earth's magnetic fields give the turtles directional information and guides in migration. The magnetite affects the cells of the nervous system of the sea turtle by producing a signal that references the forces of the magnetic field and the direction and magnitude that is applied. If this magnetite is used in the migration, when the earth's magnetic poles reverse at the dipole moment, the signal that the sea turtle nervous system receives will change the migration direction. Regardless of the hypothesis, hatchling turtles have the ability to determine the direction and inclination angle of which they are swimming with aide from magnetic fields.