Flat-Back Turtles

The green sea turtle occurs throughout tropical and subtropical oceans and is among the largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles growing to as much as 440 pounds and four feet in length. The breeding populations in Florida were listed as endangered in 1978 (43 FR 32800 32811, July 28, 1978) whereas all other populations were listed as threatened (NOAA 2015h). There is a proposal for identification of a North Atlantic green sea turtle distinct population that would be listed as threatened, continuing its current listing status near New York (80 FR 51763 51764, August 26, 2015). They are found in the shallow waters (except during migration) of shoals, bays, lagoons reefs, and inlets, often where submerged aquatic vegetation exists, from Maine south to Florida, and throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea (USFWS 2015n, 2015o; NOAA 2015e). Green sea turtles nests are not present in New York; however, they occasionally are found stranded on or near the shore (NYSDEC 2015ad). Breeding takes places in subtropical to tropical oceans every two, three, or four years between June and September, with peak nesting in June and July (NOAA 2015h; USFWS 2015u). Hatching usually occurs at night, and many green sea turtle hatchlings seek refuge and food in masses of floating sea plants (USFWS

Loggerheads live in oceans all over the world, except in the coldest seas. There are more loggerheads in the waters of the United States than any other species of sea turtle. As mentioned by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1978), the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that the loggerhead sea turtle is composed of 9 distinct population segments and listed four Distinct

If only a few ships and fisherman here and there adopt turtle exclusion devices, their effect will not be seen. A measure that needs to be taken is one that will do a multitude of things. One, the conservation measure is one that all ships can adopt. This is the only way that exclusion devices can be effective. Two, there needs to be some sort of visible and/or tangible reward for compliance like a stipend or a subsidy. In addition, the final reason is to implement a conversation technique that will benefit both marine animals like the sea turtles and humans (Mullon). We live in a selfish world where people, before agreeing to something, want to see how it benefits them. Anglers are not going to adopt a new gear modification or exclusion device if it hurts their business. They will refuse implement them even if it is the

Located in La Rocha, Uruguay, Karumbé is a group of researchers, fishermen, conservationists and students who protect sea turtles and their habitats. They also accept volunteers, who help rehabilitate sick turtles. No experience necessary. The staff provides

Nesting habitat degradation is an anthropogenic threat to the loggerhead sea turtles. These threats include coastal development, erosion control barriers or beach armoring, artificial lighting, pollution, removal of native vegetation, and vehicle and pedestrian traffic (NMFS and USFWS 2007). Some solutions include protecting and managing turtles on nesting beaches, monitor coastal construction, implement lighting regulations, screen artificial lighting with vegetation, and impose regulations on beach armoring (NMFS and USFWS 1998). Predation is an important threat to consider in nesting areas for the loggerhead. Many places have depredation to protect the eggs and hatchlings against predators such as feral dogs, raccoons, and foxes (NMFS and USFWS 2007).

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists Tomo Eguchi and Jeff Seminoff made oceanic history by releasing the first juvenile loggerhead sea turtle into the West Coast of the United States, with a transmitter attacked to its body. This exploration is going to aid scientists in getting a better understanding of what type of habitats juvenile loggerheads live in prior to participating in the years prior to participation in migration. Scientists are hopping to gain a better understanding of where juvenile loggerheads live for the sake protecting their habitats from fisherman. As of now, scientists have predicted that juvenile loggerheads tend to inhabit the same environments as swordfish. This is extremely dangerous to the lives of sea turtles considering that swordfish are heavily hunted by many fishermen. Therefore, if scientist theories are correct, the loggerheads are living in very dangerous environments. This exploration was initiated when a Coast Guard vessel found the loggerhead and took it to the Aquarium of the Pacific, where it would receive medical attention.

Blanding’s Turtles typically inhabit wetland areas including swamps, bogs, ponds, lakes, and slow flowing streams. Although the species often make short movements between wetlands for purposes such as nesting, accessing resources, and overwintering, they show a high level of fidelity to the same wetland area. In a study of 143 Blanding’s Turtles in the Edwin S. George Reserve area, 75% of the population were captured and recaptured

The following research project will focus on the Eastern Mediterranean Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Particularly, this paper will analyze why the Loggerhead consistently returns to it its natal nesting grounds in the eastern Mediterranean as opposed to nesting in the western region. To begin, background of the Eastern Mediterranean Loggerhead will be provided to the reader, and then the essay will proceed to discuss the process by which Loggerheads nest and hatch. Following this explanation, this essay will discuss this turtle’s transnational migration habits. After describing the movements of the animal, the reader will be provided with an analysis of possible reasons for natal homing. These reasons include: geographic and climate related preferences

Because of the leatherback shell rareness its carapace is secured by skin and a slick substance. Leatherbacks have a distinctive system of blood supple to their bones and cartilage. This distinctive system allows them to maintain a certain body temperature which gives them the capability of staying a few degrees above the water temperature, this allows them to cope with lower water temperature like a mammal. The lute turtle is also able to plunge deeper than any other marine turtle with a depths of up to 1,280 meters and has the ability to stay submerged for up to 85 minutes. Research done one the leatherback turtle’s DNA shows that Atlantic and Pacific inhabitants has inherently distinct ancestries of a sole species. The nesting Pacific inhabitants are divided into two (eastern and western) genetically distinct inhabitants. The Pacific eastern population can be found of the shorelines of Florida and the western population can be located on the California coast living in small numbers. The settling and birth season ranges from mid-February through mid-November and because the ocean turtles are defenseless against human changes to the marine environment their settling at shorelines is proving to be difficulty. This review article discusses the taxonomy, classification, evolution, anatomy and reproduction of the leatherback sea turtle while

Most countries financial status of the Caribbean territory are extremely reliant of their shorelines for fishing and tourism. Though, these resources are now disappearing or are extremely endangered. These wildlife species are being exhausted at a disturbing rate with both the destruction and over-exploitation of their environments. These rare cases of almost vanished Caribbean monk seal validates the vulnerability of this specific species of many, if proper protection laws haven’t been in place as soon as possible. (Anon, 2017)

There are many species worldwide whose habitats are threatened daily by loss of habitat due to global warming, pollution, and the spread of human populations that may need to undergo experimental management in order to figure out a way to keep the species’ populations in a healthy status as well as protect fragile ecosystems. One such species, the Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), was placed on the threatened list in New York state due to the large loss of habitat and low population numbers especially in the female gender of the species. The article Experimental Management of Nesting Habitat for the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) written by Zara Dowling, Tanessa Hartwig, Erik Kiviat and Felicia Keesing in 2010 in the Journal Ecological Restoration, discusses an experimental management plan for the Blanding’s turtle that has proven beneficial to that turtle population.

More than half’s the worlds turtles have eaten the debris that humans have thrown into the ocean. Studies say that Hawaii is one the most dangerous places for turtles because the debris has mixed with high species diversity. By eating the debris the turtles can die because the trash can get caught in the turtle’s stomach and block it up and it can also cut a hole in the turtle’s stomach and it can die from blood loss. This is terrible because this is an extraordinary creature and it would be bad if they went extinct. Humans need to-do better job of keeping the oceans

Now, as most may know sea turtles are both marine and land animals depending on what stage of life they are in. Which means that they need to be able to go on land during certain stages of their lives. One of the main reasons why a sea turtle will go on to land is to lay their eggs. Within the last few years this has become harder and harder for the already endangered species. It

Sea turtle hatchlings are now having trouble finding their way to the sea because of all the lights from buildings that are built on the coast. They get disoriented when they are born and will wander in the wrong way away from the sea. This leads them to predators that live inland or will even cause the turtle to become dehydrated and die. Humans are also building coastal armoring that is blocking female turtles from reaching a suitable nesting habitat. This is a severe problem in Florida where they have many coastal rock elevations and sand bags. Where all this beach development is occurring thousands of sea turtles are trying to nest. Beach dredging is also having a direct effect on sea turtle's trying to nest. If the sand is too impacted or is drastically different from native beach sediment, the mother will have trouble creating the

Sea turtles have been a big help in maintaining the health of the world's ocean for more than 100 million years. They help by keeping up coral reefs all the way to transporting nutrients to beaches. Major changes have occurred in oceans everywhere due to the decline of the sea turtle population. Oceans are unhealthy because of this. It is time for us to protect the sea turtles and rebuild their population to ensure healthy oceans in the future. According to oceana.org, there are seven species of sea turtles that roam the world, six of which inhabit U.S. waters, and have been listed as either endangered, or threatened. Up until now, all six of these species are not at a healthy level despite protection measures from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Some populations even continue to decline. Even at a diminished population, sea turtles play an important role in ecosystems. They are also extremely important to humans because they keep oceans healthy, and we use the ocean as a food source. They keep up the health of the ocean in many different ways, all of which, are very important.