Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason sea turtles often drown in fishing gear?
What is the primary reason sea turtles often drown in fishing gear?
Which of the following is a significant human activity impacting sea turtle nesting sites?
Which of the following is a significant human activity impacting sea turtle nesting sites?
How does pollution, specifically plastic, affect sea turtles?
How does pollution, specifically plastic, affect sea turtles?
Which sea turtle species is NOT mentioned as one that WWF focuses on?
Which sea turtle species is NOT mentioned as one that WWF focuses on?
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What is one of the effects of climate change on sea turtles?
What is one of the effects of climate change on sea turtles?
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What status are nearly all species of sea turtles classified as?
What status are nearly all species of sea turtles classified as?
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What is a crucial ecological role that sea turtles play in marine ecosystems?
What is a crucial ecological role that sea turtles play in marine ecosystems?
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What factor contributes to the low survival rate of sea turtle hatchlings in their first year of life?
What factor contributes to the low survival rate of sea turtle hatchlings in their first year of life?
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What is the greatest threat to most sea turtles?
What is the greatest threat to most sea turtles?
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How do barnacles benefit from their relationship with sea turtles?
How do barnacles benefit from their relationship with sea turtles?
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What contributes to the increasing threat to sea turtles from incidental capture?
What contributes to the increasing threat to sea turtles from incidental capture?
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What negative impact do barnacles have on their host sea turtles?
What negative impact do barnacles have on their host sea turtles?
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What is a common reason for the illegal harvesting of sea turtles?
What is a common reason for the illegal harvesting of sea turtles?
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What are barnacles known to be during their larval stage?
What are barnacles known to be during their larval stage?
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Why do barnacle larvae choose the shell or skin of sea turtles as their habitat?
Why do barnacle larvae choose the shell or skin of sea turtles as their habitat?
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Which of the following statements about fibropapillomatosis in sea turtles is true?
Which of the following statements about fibropapillomatosis in sea turtles is true?
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How does the swimming behavior of sea turtles facilitate barnacle dispersal?
How does the swimming behavior of sea turtles facilitate barnacle dispersal?
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What is a characteristic of the relationship between barnacles and sea turtles?
What is a characteristic of the relationship between barnacles and sea turtles?
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Study Notes
Sea Turtle Threats and Interactions
- Sea turtles face numerous threats from human activities, including fishing gear entanglement (bycatch), habitat destruction (coastal development), pollution (ingestion of plastics), and overharvesting (for meat, shells, and eggs).
- Climate change impacts nesting sites by altering sand temperatures, affecting hatchling sex ratios.
- Many sea turtle species are endangered due to these factors.
- Sea turtles play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, maintaining healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs, which benefit commercially valuable species like shrimp, lobster, and tuna.
- Seven species grace our ocean waters, with WWF focusing on green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, and olive ridley.
- Sea turtles have existed for 100 million years, demonstrating cultural and tourism value.
Fishing Gear Bycatch
- Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles are accidentally caught in fishing gear annually.
- This "bycatch" is a significant threat, especially to loggerheads, greens, and leatherbacks.
- Entanglement often results in drowning due to the need for turtles to surface and breathe.
- Expanding fishing activity exacerbates the problem.
Overharvesting and Illegal Trade
- Unsustainable harvesting of sea turtles, targeting their meat, eggs, skin, and shells, threatens populations.
- Overexploitation for food, medicine, and religious ceremonies contribute to the decline.
- Illegal trade further impacts populations.
Other Threats
- Coastal development, pollution, and artificial light disrupt nesting sites and hatchling orientation.
- Turtles mistakenly ingest plastics, causing internal blockages.
Sea Turtle-Barnacle Relationship
- Sea turtles and barnacles have a commensal relationship.
- Barnacles, small crustaceans, often settle on sea turtle shells.
- This relationship benefits barnacles.
- Barnacles add weight and drag, affecting turtle swimming and feeding, negatively impacting the turtle.
- The relationship, while mutually beneficial to the barnacles, is not entirely commensal as it impacts the sea turtles in negative ways.
Barnacle Biology
- Barnacle larvae are planktonic, allowing them to disperse widely.
- Barnacles are sessile as adults.
- They primarily attach to sea turtle shells and other substrates, particularly during their larval stage.
- The lifespan of Chelonibia testudinaria is estimated to be at least 21 months.
- Barnacles are suspension feeders, benefiting from water currents over their bodies.
- Turtles' long lifespans, and movement support barnacle dispersal.
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Description
Explore the various threats faced by sea turtles due to human activities, including entanglement in fishing gear and habitat destruction. Learn about the role of climate change in affecting nesting sites and the importance of these creatures in marine ecosystems. Delve into the conservation efforts aimed at protecting endangered sea turtle species.
