From Pollution To Leatherbacks: Marine Ecosystems

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

Turtles are one of the oldest reptile groups. They are classified as amniotes. They have existed a long time ago, which means they have seen the rise and fall of the dinosaurs and the rise of humanity. Scientists think that turtles have existed for around 157 million years (mosaic 29). Approximately, sea turtles were 65 million years ago (Dobbs 1). This family has survived the passage of time and is threatened by the contamination that humans have created in the ocean. The six sea turtles that occur on the coasts of America are in fact threatened. Sea turtles are very important for the ecosystem, but humans, directly and indirectly, endanger this family. If humans do not stop their destructive habits, we can lose the influence of sea turtles on seafarers. Sea turtles play an important role in the ecology of the ocean, and without turtles, we can see an ecological collapse in the oceans. Sea turtles are one of the few animals in the sea that eat sea grass (Godfrey). Sea turtles act as grazing animals that cut short grass and help maintain the health of the family of seaweed (Godfrey). In recent decades, there has been a decline in the sea grass family. This decrease may be related to the decrease in the number of sea turtles (Godfrey). Sea grass is important because it is a fertile ground for many species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans (Godfrey). The beaches and sand dunes are known for not having many nutrients. When the sea turtles reach

Humans have heavily affected sea turtle mortality rates, but one may ask what the benefit of having a stable and healthy population of sea turtles is. Sea turtles hold many important roles in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems where they are found. Along coasts where sea turtles are found nesting, beaches have been seen to have an increase in organic matter, phosphorus, nitrogen, and lipids (Bouchard 2000). This matter left by the sea turtle is in the forms of unhatched eggs and eggshells, which are then brought into the food chain through decomposers, such as beetles, or sea turtle predators, such as crabs (Bouchard 2000).

Hunters, activist or conservationists have a common goal “ensure that endangered species are here for generations to come” . Some comments that conservation trough commerce is a worthy way to manage natural resources and create awareness of endangered species. Hunters are more likely to be interested in support charities in order to prevent endangered animals to become extinct.

The magnificent leatherback sea turtle is a precious species that exists in the world today. It has endured and evolved through the years, and it would be terrible if humans put an end to their amazing existence. By learning more and taking an active role in supporting conservation programs, hopefully the leatherback population can grow and

However, this was the first time a live leatherback had been found there. Experts in the area wanted to help.

Loggerhead turtles might be seeing their last day on earth. Humans are killing the loggerhead turtles each year by commercial fishing and trawls, marine debris, and Artificial lighting on the beaches. We should make a difference to these loggerhead turtles and help them survive and be close to living a full live. Humans should not be careless to the innocent creatures. We need to act now, loggerheads are dying of our cruel actions.

The Chelonia mydas also known as the green turtle is currently classified as an endangered species and is one of the oldest living marine vertebrates. The aim of this paper is to examine the Chelonia mydas the chain of events that has caused the decline of its population primarily through human activity, diet, and relationship to its ecosystem. The paper will conclude with a discussion of current conservation efforts implemented to save the Chelonia mydas population. Such efforts include restrictions on human hunting and Identification of marine areas for conservation via satellite tracking.

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.

In Australia, loggerhead turtles nest on open sandy beaches (Environment, 2001). Therefore when hatchlings are born they need to make their way down to the ocean, this makes them vulnerable (Environment, 2001). Baby turtles and most vulnerable when they are scurrying, to the water because there are many obstacles along the way (Nobs, 2004). For example baby turtles mistake artificial lights for the sea and are then more likely to be killed by predators such as birds, raccoons, foxes and cats, which are just a few of the predators these vulnerable creatures face (Marine Bio, 2015). Around 10% of hatchlings from each batch are lost artificial lights each year. To decrease the amount of baby turtles killed we are going to fix how far the artificial lights are between each other. When breeding season takes place there needs to be a rule that four lights every kilometre need to be turned off. This will help by reducing the amount of hatchlings that take a wrong turn towards the light, and attract unwanted predators. This problem could most probably be bought with an organisation called ‘Sand Cloud’. When you purchase one of Sand Cloud’s products, you help to preserve and protect oceans, and Marine Life. 10% of their net profits are donated to saving marine life. In particular turtles. So if this problem was bought up with them they would probably take it up and solve

The Ocean is 70 percent of the earth’s surface, humans have explored less than five percent of the ocean, and is home to an innumerable amount of living organisms. One of its oldest inhabitants is the Cheloniidae dates back to the Triassic era, roughly 250 million years ago, (Wang et al., 2013). The Cheloniidae family has several subspecies the Eretmochelys imbricate, Caretta caretta, Dermochelys coriacea, Lepidochelys olivacea, and Chelonia mydas. While there are multiple endangered subspecies of the Cheloniidae; the endangered Chelonia mydas, commonly known as the green turtle, will be the focus of this paper. The paper will discuss the green turtle’s importance to its ecosystem, where they are most commonly found, importance to its ecosystem,

Natural selection has shaped the leatherback sea turtle in a myriad of ways, bringing it to its present form. Bolstering its ability to survive, the leatherback's flexible and rubbery shell texture give the species and more hydrodynamic structure, allowing them to dive to depths of 4,200 feet. Leatherbacks are also able to maintain warm body temperatures in cold water by using a unique set of adaptations that allow them to both generate and retain body heat.

Around the world, killer whale populations may be hurt by the effects of pollution mainly caused by toxins. Various chemicals, such as flame retardants, industrial pollutants, oils, and pesticides they have all been known to enter the oceans through waterways and they are all having a major impact on the killer whales. For now, It's safe for the killer whales because they want them to be well and keep them for long as possible.

Green turtles eat sea grass daily and it is digested and becomes recycled nutrients to the species of plants and animals living in the sea grass ecosystem. This preserves the sea grass beds and allows them to become more productive. A comparison of this would be like mowing the lawn to keep it growing and healthy. It’s important to maintain the sea grass beds because it also offers the purpose of being nurseries for numerous species of fishes, many that are valuable to fisheries, which is important to the human food chain. Green turtle’s hatchlings less than 8 inches in length eat worms, aquatic insects, grasses, and algae. Once the green turtle is bigger than 8 inches they mostly eat sea grass and algae which makes them the only turtle that is strictly herbivorous as an adult.

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.