Final answer:
Baby sea turtles exhibit a behavior called phototaxis, where they move towards the ocean guided by the brighter horizon over the water compared to the land. This instinctive movement is crucial for their survival as they must avoid numerous predators and reach the safety of the sea swiftly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The behavior that baby sea turtles exhibit when they immediately head to the ocean after hatching is known as phototaxis. This is a directed movement towards or away from a stimulus, and in the case of baby sea turtles, it is typically toward the light of the horizon over the ocean which is brighter than the landward side at night. Hatchlings use this visual cue to find their way to the sea.
Upon hatching on the beach, the loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings are vulnerable and must reach the safety of the ocean as quickly as possible to avoid predators such as seabirds, crabs, and raccoons. Taxis differs from kinesis in that it is a more directed form of movement. Other forms of taxis include chemotaxis, gravitaxis, and more, each corresponding to a different type of stimulus.
Although sea turtle hatchlings move toward the light instinctively, their journey is perilous, and many do not survive. This is why the conservation efforts surrounding these moments are crucial for the survival of various turtle species.