Sea turtles navigate oceans using which cue throughout life?

Sea turtles navigate oceans using which cue throughout life?

• A. Magnetic fields
• B. Sun position
• C. Polarized light
• D. Step counting

Answer: (A)

Magnetic fields. Sea turtles rely on the Earth's magnetic field as a navigation cue, using variations in field strength and angle (inclination) to create a sort of map and compass that guides them across oceans. This magnetic information helps them locate nesting beaches and feeding grounds over vast distances and across their life stages. While the sun’s position or polarized light can assist in orientation in some contexts, they don’t provide the same consistent, global reference that magnetic fields do for long migrations. Step counting isn’t a biological navigation mechanism.

Magnetic fields. Sea turtles rely on the Earth's magnetic field as a navigation cue, using variations in field strength and angle (inclination) to create a sort of map and compass that guides them across oceans. This magnetic information helps them locate nesting beaches and feeding grounds over vast distances and across their life stages. While the sun’s position or polarized light can assist in orientation in some contexts, they don’t provide the same consistent, global reference that magnetic fields do for long migrations. Step counting isn’t a biological navigation mechanism.