Leatherback Sea Turtle Research Paper

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.

The ornate box turtle is a extremely common species of turtle that lives throughout the United States. The turtles can be easily recognized by their dark brown shell with bright yellow markings. Almost every box turtle is unique in marking, from yellow to orange spots on their body to the different patterns on their shell. The male and female box turtle are distinguishable by their eye color and tail size. Male ornate box turtles have red eyes and longer tails, while females have brown eyes and shorter tails. These turtles have a interesting life style because they usually live their entire life's within only a few acres. The turtles start out the day basking in the sun. from there they go out hunting for food. Ornate box turtles move and hunt

Unfortunately, the total population of the Cagle’s Map Turtle decreased by ⅔ since 1974 in 1997 and is only continuing to decrease due to major disturbances in habitat, including water diversions, degradation, and being subjected to living only along the Guadalupe River Basin(Ernst, C.H., et al., 1997). Since the Cagle’s Map Turtle only survive in freshwater environments, their population decreases in increased levels of salinity caused by the water

The leatherback is an endangered species. It's also the largest sea turtle. Adults usually weigh about 800 to 1,000 pounds (363 to 454 kilograms). Some have been reported to weigh as much as 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms). The turtles get their name because their backs are covered with leathery, oily tissue instead of a shell.

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

Logger Head Turtles are primarily carnivores for most of their lives, meaning they mainly eat other animals (Marine Bio, 2015). Hatchlings mostly eat sponges, jellyfish, sargassum weed, small gastropods and crustaceans (Marine Bio, 2015). Juveniles, sub-adults and adults feed on conch, clams, horseshoe crabs, as well as other crustaceans (Marine Bio, 2015). As the turtles grow, their jaws get stronger (Harrison, 2005). This helps them to eat much firmer food such as Horseshoe crabs and clams (Harrison, 2005). The loggerhead turtle sexual maturity is reached between 22 to 27 years of age (Environment, 2001). While it is not clear how long a juvenile loggerhead turtle will stay in the open ocean, once it moves to its feeding

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).

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.

Loggerhead, hawksbill, green and Kemp’s ridley turtle species dwell on Cayo Costa. Loggerhead leads in the count with green turtles running a distant second. Threats to these nests on Cayo Costa include the common raccoon, foxes, ants, ghost crabs, high tide and humans.

They have solid protection against predators, a carapace on top and the plastron underneath. Ashore, they often have many alternatives to control their temperature by changing their conduct, and escaping the frosty by tunneling or roosting on sunny rocks. Leatherbacks however, can keep up a body temperature well over the encompassing ocean temperature utilizing huge numbers of similar adjustments that marine warm-blooded creatures use. Regardless of these adjustments ocean turtles must come aground, for their eggs need the heat that only sunny shorelines can

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

Sea turtles can be very interesting. There are seven different kinds of sea turtles. Three of them are the Loggerhead, Leatherback, and the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles. The Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle Is endangered along with another 3 species of turtles. They are also th the smallest of all the sea turtles. They only measure about 2 feet in height and only weigh about 100 pounds as adults. When they are born they are almost black and are only about 2 inches big. They reach maturity at about 12 years old. The Leatherback is the largest living turtle. The reach about 3.9-6.2 ft and weigh around 441-1116 pounds.The have dark shells with lighter spots. They are called leatherbacks because their shells are leather and not as hard as other sea turtles. A Loggerhead turtles grown to be about 350 pounds. They are called loggerhead turtles because they have big heads and very

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

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 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.