Sea Turtle Conservation

This topic submitted by Jennifer Weiskttle ( weiskije@muohio.edu) at 3:20 PM on 6/28/02.

Beautiful Brain and Boulder Corals at the French Bay Wall, 30 m deep, San Salvador, Bahamas.

Tropical Field Courses -Western Program-Miami University


Sea turtles are amazing creatures that live in a world of mystery --the ocean. As each day goes by we are able to understand more about their world, but humans are not aware of the harm they cause these animals. It is sad to think that the number of sea turtles is decline because of natural events, but also because of human activities. Sea Turtle conservation programs have been around for several years, but the number of turtle nesting sites is still declining. This is showing that conservation programs, research, and public education needs to grow and become stronger.

NATURAL HISTORY
There are five types of sea turtles that can be found in the surrounding areas of Florida at some point during the year, but mostly during nesting season. The five turtles are the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the Kemps ridely sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii).
The loggerhead sea turtle is named for its extremely large head. The carapace, the top shell, is a reddish-brown color as are the head and the flippers. The plastron, the bottom shell, is medium yellow in color (NOAA, 2002). This turtle is anywhere from 32 inches to 41 inches long and weighs up to 350 pounds. Feeding grounds for loggerheads are usually located in coastal bays and estuaries where they will eat a variety of invertebrates including horseshoe crabs, clams, and mussels. Their strong jaws enable them to crush the shells of their prey. Loggerhead females will nest in intervals of 2-3 years, laying about 4 clutches in one season. Each clutch consists of 100 - 126 eggs, which will incubate for approximately 60 days (CCC1, 1996).
The leatherback sea turtle is named for the appearance of its shell. The shell is composed of a layer of thin, yet tough, rubbery skin that resembles leather. Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtles measuring in length of 4-8 feet and weighing in at 450 - 1300 pounds. The carapace is black with white spots and the plastron ranges between white to black and is marked by 5 ridges. The leatherback sea turtle is mainly found in the open ocean except during nesting (females). Their diet is primarily jellyfish, and any other soft-bodied creature that can be eating through its scissor-like jaws. Like the loggerhead, the leatherback female will nest in intervals of 2-3 years. The female will lay anywhere from 6-9 nests duringthe season containing an average of 80 fertilized eggs and 30 unfertilized eggs that are smaller in each nest. Some believe that the purpose of the unfertilized eggs is to increase the survival of the eggs to the hatchling phase in the case of predators getting into the nest. The eggs will incubate for about 65 days (CCC1, 1996).
The hawksbill sea turtle is named for its narrow head and a snout that appears to resemble a large hawk beak. This turtle is smaller than the leatherback, but similar in size to the loggerhead, with a carapace length of 30-36 inches and weighing anywhere form 100-150 pounds. These turtles are normally found around coastal reefs, rocky areas, estuaries, and lagoons. The hawksbill will consume sponges, anemones, squid, and shrimp. Its narrow head and beak like snout allows it so obtain food from small coral reef crevices. Again, like the above turtles, hawksbill sea turtles will nest in intervals of 2-3 years. They lay 2-4 nests per season with 160 eggs, on average, in each nest, which will incubate for about 60 days (CCC1, 1996).
The green sea turtle is named from the color of the fat beneath the shell. In some areas of the Pacific this turtle may also be referred to as the black sea turtle. Again, comparable to the loggerhead and hawksbill, the green sea turtle has a carapace length of over 3 feet and weighs 300 pounds on average. Green sea turtles will mainly stay near the coastline and around islands, they rarely are seen in the open ocean. For the first part of this turtle's life it will eat worms, young crustaceans, aquatic insects, grasses, and algae. Once it grows past 8-10 inches in length it will become strictly herbivorous feeding on sea grass and algae that can be torn with its finely serrated jaws. The green sea turtle nests in interval of 2-3 years and will lay 3-5 nests in one season. Each nest will have an average of 115 eggs that will incubate for 60 days (CCC1, 1996).
The kemps ridely turtle is named after Richard Kemp who helped discover and study the turtle. This turtle is the smallest of the sea turtles measuring 24-28 inches as an adult and only weighing between 77 and 100 pounds. The carapace is olive green and the plastron is yellowish in color. Kemps ridely is usually found in shallow areas that have sandy and muddy bottoms. Here they will use powerful jays to crush and grind crabs, clams, mussels, and shrimp. On other occasions they will eat fish, sea urchins, squid, and jellyfish. Kemps ridely sea turtles nest every year and will lay nests 2 times each season. The nests have on average 110 eggs each and take about 55 to incubate (CCC1, 1996).

SEA TURTLE THREATS

During the 1970's research took note that the number of sea turtles was declining at an unusually pace and worked to place the turtles on the endangered species list. Some turtles were being classified under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as endangered, while others were only threatened. No matter whether the sea turtles were endangered or threatened their numbers were plummeting and the researchers needed to find out what was going on that was causing the population drop. Natural threats, as well as human activities, where analyzed to determine the effects on the sea turtles.

Natural Threats
Sea turtles have several predators that change from egg and hatchling phases into juvenile and adult phases. After the female sea turtles lays the eggs she will swept the sand over the nest to camouflage the area, but there are times where the predators can still locate the eggs and will also prey upon the turtles after they hatch. Some of these predators include raccoons, ghost crabs, and seabirds. Once the hatchlings enter the water their safety is not guaranteed. In the water, other predators are awaiting their turn to devour these tiny creatures. The ocean predators include larger creatures, such sharks and boats (Weber, 1997).
Another natural threat that may be affecting the turtles is global climate change. With the event of global climate change sea levels have been predicted to rise, which would submerge low coastal areas that are used for nesting sites. Also, climate change is expected to bring with it severe weather such as frequent coastal storms and hurricanes. This change in weather patterns will increase beach erosion, which will in turn decrease the number of nesting beaches that are suitable for laying eggs (NWF1, 2002).
Besides predators and climate change another factor that may be playing a part in the sea turtle decline is the of a disease outbreak. This outbreak has been recorded for in the loggerhead sea turtles over the past year as dead sea turtles are washing up on to shore around Florida. The observed symptoms have never been previously documented and include extreme lethargy, pneumonia, and acute muscle failure in the eyes and throat. The disease appears to strike fast and there have been no signs of prolonged illness. The Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) is leading an investigation into the disease and is looking at types of viruses, internal parasites, and several kinds of toxins as the potential causes of sea turtle mortality (Godfrey, 2001).

Human Threats
Humans have taken it upon themselves to improve the world in an anthropocentic fashion to benefit them, which they thought to be superior to all other creatures that inhabit the earth. In doing so, human activities have become destructive to ecosystems and are putting those "other creatures" at risk for death. More and more creatures are meeting their end in this world and are quickly becoming extinct. As more and more species are lost the overall ecosystem is showing signs of degradation and its health is decreasing. Human activities have taken their toll on sea turtles in several ways.
First, artificial lighting has become an issue during the nesting season for the turtle hatchlings. As soon as the eggs hatch the baby turtles will make a mad dash towards to brightest light in the area. Before development occurred on the beach front the brightest light was towards the ocean where the bright moon and the stars would be reflecting off of the water, which would signal them to the water. Today, the light from highways, houses, and apartment buildings serve as the guiding light and lead the turtles in the wrong direction. The disorientation of the hatchlings usually leads them to a premature death by predation or desiccation (NWF 1, 2002 and Collier County, 2002).
Second, development, which was mentioned above, not only disorients the turtle hatchlings, but also is encroaching upon the nesting sites of the females. More and more buildings are popping up along side the beach and is increasing the rate of erosion of the beaches since the landscape is changing. Also, some developers are worried about losing the land and have placed structures such as concrete walls and riprap to save the land on which the buildings are located. This in itself is reducing the amount of beach that is left for the females to use for nesting (Weber, 1997).
Third, trash is a major concern for those that are worried about the decline in sea turtle populations. The biggest problem is plastic that is being dumped by a number of sources. One source is the illegal dumping from recreational, commercial, and government ships. The other source is careless citizens that have improperly discarded plastic grocery bags, which have found a way into the ocean. The turtles will mistaken the trash for animals, such as jellyfish, and the plastic gets lodged in their throats and stomach and they will starve to death (Weber, 1997).
Fourth, water pollution has become an issue over the years from offshore oil drilling, oil spills, and runoff from agriculture and industry. This water pollution is degrading the habitats that the sea turtles reside in and is decreasing the overall health of the sea turtle population. Taking this pollution into account, the amount of stress placed on the sea turtles may be a factor in the disease that have been documented in the loggerhead turtles and may become a factor in the spread of the disease across species.
Fifth, nesting beaches are often protected and do not allow the passage of humans due to the fragility of the eggs and the hatchlings. All-terrain vehicles have been banned from many beaches because of two reasons. One, the weight of the vehicle compresses the sand and will crush the eggs that are located in the nests beneath the sand. Two, The tires will produce ruts in the sand and when the turtles hatchlings begin their journey to the ocean they will get trapped in the rut and will desiccate and death. Often, walking will also be prohibited on nesting beaches unless turtle volunteers are guiding you who know where the nests are located (Weber, 1997).
Sixth, the shrimping industry has been contributing to the decline in sea turtles by the nets that are used to catch the shrimp. In the past, the shrimping boats used nets that were totally enclosed and if a sea turtle met up with one of the nets it would become entangled and never get a chance for freedom. The turtle would never be able to come up for air and literally suffocate. Regulations have been enforced that require United States shrimping boats to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) that will allow shrimp to be caught, yet at the same time the nets will allow the sea turtles to escape through a wider opening before getting caught up in the net. The TEDs are not fool proof, but the chance of survival for the turtles has increased through this regulation (Weber, 1997).

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Joshua Powers founded the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) in 1959 in response to a book, The Windward Road, which was published by Dr. Archie Carr. The book told the story of the sea turtles and the threats that they have been enduring throughout the years. Dr. Carr became the scientific director of the CCC until his death in 1987. The CCC focuses on the "conservation of sea turtles and related marine and coastal wildlife through research, training, advocacy, education, and the protection of natural areas" (CCC 2, 2002). The CCC was one the first sea turtle conservation organization and has been active for over 40 years. It began its work in Costa Rica and now focuses its efforts in all of Central America and throughout the Caribbean. In 1993, the CCC developed a permanent program known as the Sea Turtle Survival League (STSL) which has been working towards improving the future for sea turtles along the coast of Florida. The STSL has been attempting to improve sea turtle futures by raising national awareness, advocating for protection of sea turtles and their habitats, and empowering local sea turtle organizations (CCC 2. 2002). Some actions that have been taken are educational programs through the media and through school systems with information about the importance of nesting sites and the threats that are facing these areas. Also, STSL works along side major decision makers to obtain the highest level of protection for the sea turtles and their habitats. STSL also publicizes the research that is being conducted, such as nesting surveys and the tracking of migratory patterns (CCC 3, 2001).
In North America, over 90% of the sea turtle nesting occurs in Florida. Within the state of Florida along the eastern central coast a 20.5-mile stretch of beach has been set aside by Congress in 1989 as the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge to help in the protection of sea turtles. The CCC is trying to increase the amount of land that is to be set aside for sea turtle protection, but the funds that are available are not enough and development is slowly encroaching upon remaining nesting beaches. It is hoped by CCC that Congress will see that more protection is needed and increase the funding for the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (CCC 3, 2001 and Weber, 1997).
Along with CCC, in 1986 the University of Florida development a center for sea turtle research. The Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research conducts research on all aspects of sea turtles, trains graduate students, and communicates the results of the research to the scientific community, management agencies, and conservation organization world wide to increase the level of conservation that the sea turtles are receiving. The research that is being completed at the University ranges from genetic studies to ecosystem studies with an interdisciplinary approach in answering complex questions. The faculty that is involved in this research serve on national, as well as international committees that deal with management and conservation policies to facilitate communication of research results. The Archie Carr Center also has created CTURTLE, which is listserve discussion network on the web that has over 750 subscribers from more the 25 countries to help facilitate communication (Bjorndal, 2000).
Another project that the center is involved with is the sea turtle tagging programming that is attempting to make the tagging system universal so that the turtles will be able to be identified and tracked by anyone in the world. The Satellite telemetry-tracking project is also important to scientists to be able to understand migratory patterns and the distribution of the sea turtles. Knowing the migration patterns may be the key in understanding what environmental cues are used by the turtles to follow these particular patterns (Bjorndal, 2000).
Along with scientific research, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) allows people to help out in any way they can to do their part in sea turtle conservation. The NWF leads volunteer programs to help monitor the beach during nesting season for sea turtle activity. The volunteers are trained and are asked to work twice a week for one month or longer. They help look for turtle tracks and nests, as well as patrol the beach for turtles that are stranded or are having some kind of problem. Another important aspect that the NWF promotes is for citizens that make their voice heard and to let their local government representatives know that they want more funding for turtle protection and research. Along with volunteering and in a sense lobbying, the NWF educates people on the use of "good turtle etiquette", such as recycling, using degradable garden and yard products, removing trash found on the beach, and if a nesting turtle is found or an unmarked nest observe from a distance, never subject the turtle to any flash photography or bright lights, and notify a local turtle organization (NWF 2, 2002).
The ocean is a mysterious place and humans have just begun to scratch the surface in understanding the underwater world. There are so many different interactions that occur below that are unknown to the anthropocentric view held on land. We do not know how our actions impact the environment until it is too late to reverse the outcome. Sea turtles are ancient creatures that have come from the depths of the oceans. They play an important role in the ocean ecosystem and we have done an excellent job at destroying their habitats - on land and in the water. Conservation efforts have been started by several organizations and some regulations have been put into place to help in the sea turtle protection, but more desperately needs to be done. The sea turtle populations are increasing in some areas of the world, but the overall count of nesting females is in decline. We need to continue educating the public and conducting research to determine what needs to be done to save the sea turtles from extinction.

References:

Bjorndal, Karen. 2000. Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research. University of Florida. Accstr.ufl.edu/. Accessed 29 March 2002.

Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC 1). 1996. http://www.cccturtle.org/contents.htm. Accessed 16 May 2002.

Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC 2). 2002. www.cccturtle.org/cccwelc.htm. Accessed 29 March 2002.

Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC 3). 2001. The Archie Carr National Wildlife
Refuge: America's First Sea Turtle Refuge. http://www.cccturtle.org/carrref.htm. 3-29-2002.

Collier County. 2002. Lighting Compliance Program. http://www.co.collier.fl.us/natresources/turtle/lights.html. Accessed 16 May 2002.

Godfrey, David. 2001. New Threat Facing Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Florida. Caribbean Conservation Corporation. www.cccturtle.org/velart28.html. Accessed 16 May 2002.

National Wildlife Federation (NWF 1). 2002. Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle: The Big Picture.
http://www.nwf.org/wildalive/seaturtle/bigpicture.html. 3-29-02.

National Wildlife Federation (NWF 2). 2002.Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle: How you can help. http://www.nwf.org/wildalive/seaturtle/howtohelp.html. 3-29-02.


NOAA. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/species/turtles/loggerhead.html. Accessed 16 May 2002.

Weber, Michael L. 1997. Contested coastlines. National Parks. V71n1/2 p.30-33.


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