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Turtles In Trouble Loading...
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Claire Skiffington
Table of Contents
Trouble Out At Sea
The Life of a Turtle
Against All Odds
How Pollution Affects Turtles
Oil Affects the Turtles, Too
Turtles Aren't Alone
How Can You Help Out?
Glossary
The Life of a Turtle
Against All Odds
How Pollution Affects Turtles
Oil Affects the Turtles, Too
Turtles Aren't Alone
How Can You Help Out?
Glossary
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
4
5
6
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10
Trouble Out At Sea
Sea turtles have been around since the late Jurassic period, which means they have coexisted with the dinosaurs and even out lived them. They have overcome many obstacles but now they are on the decline.
Humans have been destroying their habitat by dumping all our waste into the oceans. Now it's our responsibility to stop what we started and right our wrongs to ensure that an entire species doesn't go extinct. If they do, it will create a trophic cascade and that isn't a good thing for any creature, especially turtles.
Humans have been destroying their habitat by dumping all our waste into the oceans. Now it's our responsibility to stop what we started and right our wrongs to ensure that an entire species doesn't go extinct. If they do, it will create a trophic cascade and that isn't a good thing for any creature, especially turtles.
The Life of a Turtle
It all starts with a clutch of between 50 and 200 eggs. The gender of those eggs is determined through the temperature of the nest. Not all of the eggs hatch but after about 60 days the remaining eggs hatch and the hatchlings the size of your palm crawl out of the nest and make a desperate dash for the water.
Along the way half of those babies get caught by seabirds, crabs, traps or any other dangers on the beach. Then when they make it to the water they might get eaten by sharks when looking for some where to hide or seabirds when they go for air. Half of those that make it to the water get eaten. Then they start to grow into adults.
With growth comes some protection but they aren't invincible. Because of plastics, oil, nets, long lines, beach development and poaching they are on the decline. Also turtles normally hatch at night and follow the natural light on the horizon to the water. But bright light from buildings such as houses confuse the young turtles and they head in the wrong direction.
Along the way half of those babies get caught by seabirds, crabs, traps or any other dangers on the beach. Then when they make it to the water they might get eaten by sharks when looking for some where to hide or seabirds when they go for air. Half of those that make it to the water get eaten. Then they start to grow into adults.
With growth comes some protection but they aren't invincible. Because of plastics, oil, nets, long lines, beach development and poaching they are on the decline. Also turtles normally hatch at night and follow the natural light on the horizon to the water. But bright light from buildings such as houses confuse the young turtles and they head in the wrong direction.
Against All Odds
Here is something crazy to think about...
... a clutch of 1000 eggs is laid...
800 hatch...
400 make the dash to the water and survive.
200 survive the harsh waters and grow into strong adult turtles.
20 survive to breeding age without human interference.
BUT
Against all odds somehow 2 turtles manage to survive to breeding age with human interference.
This is a tragic loss all because civilization was careless and dumped waste into the water.
How Pollution Affects Turtles
Pollution is the introduction of some thing like a chemical or piece of trash that affects the local environment. Pollution is a big threat to all sorts of animals all over the world, including the sea turtle. An estimated 14 billion pounds of garbage ends up in the ocean every year. Over half of the sea turtle population left on Earth have ingested garbage in some form. 100,000 marine animals including the sea turtles die every year due to garbage.
Turtles often mistake plastic bags for something edible.
Floating bags usually resemble jellyfish which a turtle might try to eat for lunch.