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Short ecology essay on endangered sea turtles
Sea turtles impact on the environment
Short ecology essay on endangered sea turtles
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Conserving Biodiversity of Sea Turtles
Biodiversity is the variation and amount of species across the globe, or within in a specific geographical habitat. There are three different areas of study within biodiversity; ecological diversity, species diversity and, genetic diversity. Science Book Species diversity is the variety of different organisms and relationships within a specific species, this essay will discuss the declining of species diversity among sea turtles and the implications it has on the worldwide seas. I have chosen to research about the topic because, sea turtles are believed to have been alive during the Jurassic period. However, now all seven sea turtle species are critically endangered or vulnerable, due to human activities such as; commercial fishing, bycatch and, climate change. (WWF, OCEANA, ACTIONBIOSCI)
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are seven different kind of sea turtles; Leatherback, Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Flatback, Kemp’s Ridley and, Olive Ridley. All of these turtles are migratory, meaning they spend most of their lives migrating to another location, therefore sea turtles can be found all over the world. Most of them live in tropical regions for example, Northern Australia, and the Gulf or California(WWF,seeturtles) However, Leatherback turtles have been seen in Manx waters, and the Irish Sea. (ACTIONBIO) Because sea turtles are spread worldwide, they have a global and important effect on the world’s sea ecosystem. Green Sea Turtles, for example, are herbivores that eat sea grass. Acting like a lawnmower, the Green Sea Turtle crop off the top of sea grass blades allowing more nutrient filled sea grass to grow. This results in sea grass decreasing their intake of nitrogen through their roots up to around 6.7%, affecting other marine plants, as well as, animal density. If Green Sea Turtles were not to graze the sea grass, the plant will start to overgrow and be diseased with microorganisms, algae and fungi. (OCEANA) This would have a negative effect on species that indirectly rely on sea grass nutrients, for example Bottlenose Dolphins (costaricaturtles, myfwc) Sea grass also help maintain high water quality, if it were to be diseased the water of the quality would decrease resulting in more marine species decline. (myfwc) Leatherback Sea Turtles are also a turtle that widely affects the waters ecosystem.
They affect it by maintaining balance in the sea’s food chain. Leatherback turtles rely on huge quantities of jellyfish for nutrients, they are known to eat almost 200 kg of jellyfish per day. Without these turtles the world’s seas would be abound with jellyfish and, since jellyfish feed on fish eggs, this would further hasten the decline of worldwide fish population. (OCEANA, costaricaturtles) However, the Pacific population of leatherback turtles have declined with 90% the last two decades, due to commercial fishing. (seeturtles)
Commercial fishing of other marine animals is one of the main reasons for drastic decline in all sea turtles. Turtles rely on air to breathe despite being marine animals, therefore when captured in nets while scavenging for food they most likely drown. In the US alone 250,000 turtles are accidently captured, injured or killed every year. (WWF, conserveturtles) However, there is also commercial fishing within sea turtles. Turtle’s shells, skin, meat and, eggs are valuable and decorative items that many humans want to
possess. Climate change is also affecting the lives of sea turtles. Beach nesting areas will wash away as sea levels slowly rise, and the possibility of nesting areas to be harmed during storms also increase. Rise in seawater temperatures is also an effect caused by global warming that affects sea turtles negatively. The sex of a sea turtle is dependent on the temperature it is incubated in, the higher the temperature the more likely it is to be a female. With the increase in ocean temperatures there is a loss of males, causing reproduction of sea turtles to decline. (WWF, actionbioscience)
In the past twenty years a large amount of bottlenose dolphin have been killed due to the tuna fishery. In the Eastern Pacific swim large schools of tuna, these shoals tend to be under herds of dolphins, for some unexplained reason. Because of this, fishermen can easily find schools of tuna. The tuna are being caught under purse seine nets, which encircles the shoals of tuna and then is pulled back on board the fishing vessel, catching both tuna and dolphin. Initially the mortality rate was 500,000 each year for dolphins alone. Although some efforts are made to encourage the dolphins to leave the net by backing down part of the net, which allows the dolphins to escape, there are still a large number of mortalities (Bryant). On the other hand, in the last few years there has been dramatic progress in stopping the fishing industries from using purse sine nets. It has been found that dolphins are in immediate danger of extinction if these fishing techniques don’t stop.
Throughout the animal kingdom, adaptations take place continuously and even the smallest of changes can leave a significant impact. Examples can be seen within any plant or animal. One example would include sea turtles, specifically, the Loggerhead Turtles. These turtles are native to the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans as well as the Mediterranean Sea (Deurmit L 2007). They thrive in either temperate or tropical climates and can live in a myriad of biomes (Deurmit L 2007). These biomes include the pelagic, reef, coastal, and brackish water (Deurmit L 2007). Loggerhead turtles are omnivores and can eat anything from insects to aquatic crustaceans, to macro algae (Deurmit L 2007). According to Deurmit (2007) Caretta caretta is classified into Animalia Kingdom, Chordata Phylum, Vertebrata Subphylum, Reptilian Class, Testudines’ Order,
The efforts taking place through different conservation organizations and the State of Florida are making a mixed impact on the survival of Manatees and Sea Turtles. The decline in manatee population has decreased, but due to low reproduction rates, more needs to be done to avoid extinction. The sea turtle outlook is more species specific. Some species of turtle are seeing stabilization in population, while others are not. The State of Florida has a large array of custom license tags that support the conservation efforts taking place within the State. The proceeds go to benefit the local marine life in Florida. With financial resources, state and local cooperation, and through constant research and observation, we are able to learn more about both of these gentle animals. With human awareness of those living in Florida, these two animals will survive
The green sea turtles have been taken out of the Atlantic Ocean for several years, so now they are an endangered species. Today, the green sea turtles population is growing and in the Florida Refuge they counted up to over 12,000 turtle nests. It is shocking to see how much the refuges care about the green sea turtles. They have been looking out for the turtles for 35 years. It was interesting to find out that these green sea turtles live for a really long time. It takes the turtles 25 years just to mature. This article caught my eye because I love science and animals. Knowing that people are taking care of what used to be endangered animals really means a lot to me. I hate seeing animals hurt or struggling to survive. Because of the refuges
The manipulation of the environment by humans is the first factor that has begun to promote the jellyfish dystopia. As humans change the environment, conditions are beginning to favor jellyfish. In an environment that largely favors them, a population explosion and accompanying jellyfish dystopia is inevitable. These population explosions are a great leap toward the jellyfish dystopia. Throughout the marine environment, humans have begun overfishing in multiple marine environments. This opens niches in the oceanic food webs. These niches, or spaces in the food webs, result from the removal of predators that would previously control the jellyfish population (Stone). In the absence of their predators, the jellyfish population is free to expand and forms blooms, or large jellyfish populations. The jellyfish themselves then prevent the native fish population from rebounding by feeding on the fish eggs (Stone). Human proceed to fish in these areas again, and the jellyfish predation decreases to a greater degree. Humans also improve conditions for jellyfish as we allow pollution levels to rise. Devices like cars are contributors to the carbon dioxide levels. As the CO2 levels rise, this also affects the oceans. They slowly are becoming more acidic and becomin...
A fact that is tragically unknown by much of the human population is that marine debris has a large effect on sea turtle populations throughout the world during various stages of the sea turtles’ lives. This type of pollution has proven detrimental to the habitats of sea turtles, as well as to their lives. Marine debris can be defined as any manufactured or processed solid waste imported into the marine environment (Campani, et al., 2013). Various examples of marine debris are fishing nets, plastic bags, cans, bottles, and tires ("Marine debris impacts," 2012). At the beginning of a sea turtle’s life, debris on shores makes it difficult for freshly hatched turtles to complete their journey into the ocean (Triessing, et al.). Their inability to bring this hugely important task to fruition inevitably results in horrifying consequences for the turtles. Once they leave the beach, they commonly mistake plastic bags floating in the ocean for squid or jellyfish, which is why they consume them ("Marine debris impacts," 2012). The ingestion of marine debris by sea turtles proves harmful because the debris provides a false sense of fullness for the turtles and, as a result of this pseudo-fullness, they starve to death. Additionally, the sea turtles often get caught in the marine debris which then drowns or suffocates them ("Marine debris impacts," 2012). The consumption of marine debris increases the amount of nitrogen in the diets of sea turtles (Slip & Burton). Scientists have found marine debris in 35% of loggerheads examined from the Adriatic Sea as of 2010 (Lazar & Gračan 2011). Because of the composition of marine debris, it has many effects on sea turtle populations such as: hindering baby ...
In conclusion, turtles are reptiles. They are endangered species. This is why it is so important to feed turtles a healthy diet so that they survive. They can die if they are not fed the right, healthy food. It is very important what food the turtle eats. Giving turtles healthy food and more calcium can affect the behavior of pet turtles.This is why they need to have a balance diet of protein, calcium and vitamins. Calcium and protein should be what they mostly eat because it it is the most important nutrient for turtles. The calcium and protein can help the shell become strong especially cause they need their shell to survive. When they don’t get fed the way they want they go on a hunger strike. They could go a long time without eating foods.
When fishers throw their nets, the turtles get caught in the nets causing damages to their body or drowning them. When juvenile loggerheads head to their foraging area in the water, they are highly exposed to bycatching, international longlines, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) longline fisheries causing high mortality rates (Peckham et al. 2008). Though juveniles have a higher mortality rate due to bycatch, longlines and trade since they are still maturing, adults are easily exposed to these threats as
...ve significantly reduced available fish stocks by failing to limit catches of endangered or threatened species such as the Bluefin tuna. The regeneration of the marine biodiversity is slow, and citizens have done everything but help. Additionally, the slaughter of dolphins and protected animals like the whale shark adds to the downsides of overfishing. Also, in order to sell to consumers the desired fish species, astonishing numbers of by-catch have to be rid of. Sometimes, less than half of the captured fish is brought back to the shore. The problem of overfishing further disrupts intricate ecosystems maintained by the already threatened coral reefs. Their destruction is synonym to a loss of habitat and refuge to numerous different marine animals. Overfishing must be the main concern of modern society because billions of people depend of fish stocks to survive.
The Monterey Bay Sea Otters There are a number of sea otters who are an important part of this world and they form a fairly large population and that is why it is felt that they should be preserved at all costs. They are an important source of earning for the people and they are also important in the sense that they provide an important source of earning to the people and their is an entire group of people who use this field as their source of earning. Besides the population of these otters keeps fluctuating and it has to be maintained because if the number fluctuate exponentially and if they get out of hand they can damage the ecological and the environmental balance of the world. Similarly the fishing and the killing of these otters can cause the damage to the balance because just like the excess of anything can cause a problem similarly the excess supply can cause a lot of major problem as well. These otters vary in sizes and this is an unchartered territory with a number of parasites who do vary in species and sizes and they all have their purposes and pros and cons and they impact our life and the balance of the world in a different manner. As the size varies so does the importance of the otters and the smaller ones might be innocuous while the larger ones can be the source of food as well and some of the larger species can also act as the predators and they act as a deterrent for the other species because they keep the check over the other species. They may pose a hazard of some type in some of the cases but their habitats and their productive cycles are all the things that need to be considered by us as human beings. Similarly their eating habits and appetites can alter and impact our world and our actions and reactions an...
The North Pacific Garbage Patch is a disaster because it impacts the planet and humanity in terrible ways. The trash kills wildlife kills over 100,000 sea turtles and mammals annually. Sea creatures such as turtles confuse plastic bags with jellyfish and they eat them by mistake. Because the bags block their digestive tracks, it forces them to float making it impossible for them to dive down and eat the real food. A study done by the EPA showed that fifty percent of dead sea turtles have plastic bags in their stomachs.
Shah, Anup. Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions. Global Issues, 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 May 2014.
The United Nations designated 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. In biodiversity, each species, no matter how big or small has an important role to play in ecosystem. Various plant and animal species depend on each other what each offers and these diverse species ensures natural sustainability for all life forms. A healthy and solid biodiversity can recover itself from variety of disasters. It is estimated that the current species extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000
NEED AND PURPOSE FOR CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY: Biodiversity, a contraction of “biological diversity,” generally refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth. The very existence of human species and sustainable development depend on biodiversity conservation, therefore the need for conservation of biodiversity is basically for this reason that all living creatures need other creatures and plants in one way or the other. At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are mainly derived from biological resources. Biodiversity is necessary for our existence as well as valuable in its own right as it provides the fundamental building blocks for the many goods and services which are essential
Nowadays it is common to read articles in newspapers and magazines regarding biodiversity issues. Human beings have been knowingly and unknowingly destroying biodiversity since their existence. Biodiversity is the measure of the variety of species of animals living in an area. Forests are usually areas with high biodiversity while deserts are the opposite. Human beings have always destroyed biodiversity either by deforestation, or by some other means. Biodiversity depletion is a natural phenomenon. But the present levels of biodiversity depletion are many times higher than the natural rate. Recently the levels of loss in biodiversity have started causing global concern. Some of the main causes for loss in biodiversity are alteration of habitats, increasing levels of pollution and human population growth.