Hawkbill Turtle Research Paper

My favorite memory was the time when I watch baby sea turtles hatch! During the summer I spend a lot of time at the beach, and this summer I got to see something that I have never gotten to see before. Every few miles there were areas roped off with signs that said “Please Do Not Disturb” this was because they didn’t want anything to happen to the babies. We had some friends who would help watch the nests every night, so my mom and I started to the nest with them. This meant countless nights out on the beach until like one or two in the morning just to watch these cuties hatch. I never realized that it could get that cold at night in the middle of July, but we had to take blankets and sweatshirts out with us because we would get so cold. Finally one night they hatched!

Sea turtles have a unique place in world’s oceans. The way they migrate and reproduce makes them fascinating to learn about, but also it makes them very vulnerable to environmental problems. Human development of beaches, fishing practices, and other environmental threats are threatening sea turtles across the world.

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

In particular, one of these seven species is comprised of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). The largest of all hard-shelled turtles, loggerheads have massive heads, strong jaws, and a reddish-brown shell, or carapace. Their front flippers are short and thick with 2 claws, while the rear flippers can have 2 or 3 claws. Loggerhead hatchlings have a dark-brown carapace with pale brown flippers. According to National Geographic (2015), adult males reach about three feet (nearly one meter) in shell length and weigh about 250 pounds (113 kilograms), but large specimens of more than 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) have been found. They are primarily carnivores, munching jellyfish, conchs, crabs, and even fish, but will eat seaweed occasionally. They prefer to feed in coastal bays and estuaries, as well as the shallow water along the continental shelves of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

After reading and learning about Western Painted Turtles It would be interesting to get one. Western painted turtles aren’t only interesting but they are also beautiful because of their natural colors. I loved learning about these turtles because I have always liked turtles but never knew what they were really about, how they lived, and what they are capable of. These turtles may be small but they can do crazy things. I didn’t know a turtle could walk across the highway, but they sure do. The articles said they will do what it takes when it comes to laying their eggs because they are very picky about where they are laid. I also didn’t know that turtles could manage their heartbeat. I thought that was a fun interesting fact. I never knew Colorado

Sea turtles are becoming more and more endangered as time goes on and is something that really needs to be changed. There are seven species of sea turtle and they are all either endangered or critically endangered. Millions of sea turtles used to inhabit the sea now only a fraction of them are still around. Humans are partly the cause of this because we hunt them for food and profit. It is unbelievable that people can kill such beautiful creatures just for their personal benefit. Humans are not the only reason sea turtles are facing extinction, but we are the main reason. Humans really should not be part of the problem in the first place.

Loggerhead sea turtles are one of the most abundant species of the marine life in the U.S. oceans but the population is currently decreasing due to pollution increase and getting caught in bycatch. The term bycatch is when shrimp fishermen have their nets out and the animal ( in this case a loggerhead sea turtle) gets caught in the net and eventually killing the sea turtle . ((( Add More))))

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).

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.

Sea turtles have always had difficulties getting to the water without harm because they are preyed upon by sea birds, sharks and/or raccoons. With the increase of population and tourism the amount of trash on the beaches has increased. Turtles will commonly mistake trash for food. With this common confusion the population of sea turtles is slowing decreasing causing them to gradually become extinct. In order to help save the sea turtles locals and tourists need to keep the beaches clean by picking up after themselves and

Sea turtles live a life of conflict with humans and the biproducts of human development and practices. At every stage in the life cycle of a sea turtle, there is potential for fatal conflict with humans. Conflicts can be divided into those that are direct or intentional, and those that are indirect, non-intentional, or accidental. Indirect conflicts are widespread and highly varying, while direct conflicts fall into the categories of egg poaching and direct take. Humans cause increased mortality and population declines of sea turtles through direct and indirect conflicts; these conflicts can be reduced through various mitigation strategies.

That’s why many conservation efforts have been made to help decline the mortality rate caused by humans. Commercial fishing and human pollution is a large cause of mortality during migration for these animals [5]. Another up and coming cause of concern is climate change throughout the world. The turtles rely very heavily on the ability to forage in temperate waters, the migrating to tropical ones. Without having a clear distinction of where to find their prey, the turtle population could once again become

Sea turtles spend most of their life at sea, but when a sea turtle is ready to lay her eggs and mate, she’ll have to travel long miles just to get to the nesting grounds. In the article, “SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment”, it states, “Green sea turtle populations migrate primarily along the coasts from nesting to feeding grounds. However, some populations travel 2,094 km (1,300 miles) across the Atlantic Ocean; from Ascension Island nesting grounds (in the middle of the South Atlantic) to Brazilian coast feeding grounds.” What this evidence is stating is that this particular species of sea turtle, the green sea turtle, has a unique type of traveling pattern that it follows by. And what this evidence also explains is how far the green sea turtle

Green Sea turtles are very small when they are born, but as they mature, they become the largest hard-shelled sea turtles. These turtles do are not named for having a green shell, but for having green skin. Their shell is a brown or olive color. The organisms that make up this species are usually herbivores, but are omnivores while they are young. They eat seaweed and other plants or algae found in the ocean. Green sea turtles have serrated jagged edged jaws, which they have adapted for a vegetarian diet made up of eating of seagrasses, plants, and algae found in the ocean. When the turtles are not born yet, they are in a nesting habitat. The mother buries her eggs in the sand along a beach. Once they hatch, they head for the ocean and live ocean habitats. The ocean is extremely salty, and can be dangerous to species who are have not adapted to that environment. Green sea turtles are unique to the ocean environment because they “...have a salt

Sponges are a vital element of the coral ecosystem. The sponge is one of the inhabitats of the reef that is responsible for filtering the water on the reef. They "filter water, cycle nutrients, and provide a home to numerous cryptic organisms" (). Because the sponge filters the water on the reef, many of the nutrients that would have been lost to ocean currents is keep in the reef system. So in the event that a disease attacked and wiped out the entire sponge population many of the key nutrients that the sponges filters out and keeps in the reef system would be lost. This would be a very serious problem becasue coral reefs are like deserts in the sea, but deviod of nutrients instead of water. Another big problem would be the quality of