Go Slow: Sea Turtles Below! U.S. Sea Turtles Importance of Sea Turtles to Healthy Oceans Maintaining Habitat Importance of Green Sea Turtles on Seagrass Beds Impact of Hawksbill Sea Turtles on Coral Reefs Benefit of Sea Turtles to Beach Dunes Maintaining a Balanced Food Web Sea Turtles and Jellyfish Sea Turtles Provide Food for Fish Nutrient Cycling Healthy oceans need sea turtles and sea turtles need healthy oceans! Green turtles feed on seagrasses and seaweeds that grow on the ocean floor. Why is the Ocean so important? Without the ecological role of sea turtles, the health of the world’s oceans is compromised. ... Why It’s So Important. Loggerhead sea turtles make some of the longest known journeys of any sea turtle species. Sea turtles mate at sea, then come ashore on beaches to lay their eggs. All of these adds up to the food web, making sea turtles an integral part of it. If sea turtles were to vanish they could disrupt hundreds of chains of living organism ultimately producing a likely extinction for many of these or other living things. Sea turtles are an important part of the planet’s food web and play a vital role in maintaining the health of the world’s oceans. Our Billion Baby Turtles program supports more than 20 organizations working to protect sea turtles and hatchlings on some of the world’s most important nesting beaches. They have survived the evolution and demise and extinction of thousands of other species. 5/7 sea turtle species are endangered. If we manage, in the process, to save sea turtle, we might just be saving ourselves too. Those that are conserved are because they suffered injuries caused by fishing nets, were attacked by some predator, received the impact of a boat, or an illness left them handicapped. Why Sea Turtles are Important. Some female turtles are prey to jaguars whenever they nest at night. The Sea Turtle Conservancy offers their advice. Seagrass is also an important habitat for the crustaceans and fish that are a dietary staple for loggerhead and olive ridley turtles. Sea turtles and sea turtle eggs provide important nutrients to dune and beach ecosystems as well as marine and ocean ecosystems. The Sea Turtle Serves Ecology. Water covers more than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface. To avoid injury: Watch for sea turtles in the water. There were millions of sea turtles in our oceans, we are down to less than 1 million sea turtles. Sea Turtles serve our ecology in several ways and here are a couple examples. Sea turtles have an important role in the marine environment. Lexie Beach of The Sea … Although Prescott and his team mainly save ridley sea turtles, they also find and rescue loggerhead turtles and green turtles. Sea turtles are seen as peaceful, wise, mysterious and interesting ocean ambassadors that travel the world and symbolize the great unknown sea. This episode explores the capabilities and challenges of one of the world's more ancient and astounding animal species, sea turtles. Sea Turtles in Captivity. Sea turtles do not have teeth, yet it is one of the interesting facts about sea turtles their mouths adapt to all the types of food they usually eat. Sea plants, like Posidonia, produce 70% of the oxygen we breathe (1), and the deep waters are home to wildlife and some of the biggest creatures on earth.It provides us with food, jobs, life, entertainment, and sailing! The reptiles are often caught in fishing nets by accident (along with dolphins, sharks, and more) and die as a result. From large dugongs, manatees, sharks and turtles to tiny seahorses, shrimps and octopus. Remember, turtles have to come up to the surface for air, and they can be difficult to see. When the organization started the program in the 1980s, Prescott said it rescued between 10 and 20 turtles per year, but now it averages about 600 turtles a year. A Poorer World So, turtles do a lot for the world’s ecology. Sea turtles have a higher vegetarian diet and are have seagrass as food. Boat strikes are a serious threat to sea turtles, so slow down and steer around them. #1 Maintaining sea grass habitats. Sea turtles and sea turtle eggs provide important nutrients to dune and beach ecosystems as well as marine and ocean ecosystems. Feeding Balance. Sea grass beds are important feeding grounds for green sea turtles, manatees, dugongs, and other species. Some migrate more than 7,500 miles between nesting beaches. For example, green turtles mainly feed on seagrass. If sea turtles become extinct, they could severely impact the ecosystems of marine life in ways that we may not be aware of. Why is it important we protect sea turtles? Sea turtles' chances of survival are already quite slim. hamu®TV presents Saving a Species - Sea Turtle. green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and olive ridley sea turtles are all endangered due to human activity. You cannot find a high number of sea turtles in captivity around the world. Leatherback Sea Turtles have been here for over 65 million years. Wanting to save the sea turtles is commendable – but it’s important to go about it the right way. The vegetarian sea turtles eat seaweed, while the other turtles eat clams, crab, jellyfish and sea cucumbers. As sea turtle populations decline, so does their ability to fulfill vital functions in ocean ecosystems.Our oceans are March 12, 2019 by Bob Janik Leave a Comment. These turtles have been very important links traditionally and culturally for most of the 13 maritime provinces. Many sea creatures make their home in seagrass meadows. Importance of sea turtles. Nesting sea turtles leave about 75 percent of their energy on land in the form of eggs and hatchlings before they return to sea. Green sea turtles graze on seagrass, an increasing focus of Seacology projects. Sea turtles are ancient species, having been around since the time of the dinosaurs — about 110 million years. These ecosystems house many animals and promote the safety of the wildlife and without sea turtles, the ecosystems would be in great danger. Look closely and you’ll find a vast collection of commercially important fish and crustacea. List five tips on how we as a community can help save sea turtles. Wanting to help these amazing creatures thrive is commendable – but it’s important to go about it the right way. presentation to your neighborhood or local school on things they can do to save sea turtles, and most importantly, talk to others about what they can do to make sure they are not putting these important creatures in danger. Sea Turtles are one of the few animals that eat sea grass. Don't approach sea turtles when they come up to land. SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS: SAVE SEA TURTLES. Commercial fishing, loss of nesting habitat and climate change are among the human-caused threats pushing sea turtles towards extinction. Saving The Sea Turtles There are around five species of sea turtles that are endangered today. August 2017 – Part II. They break down the energy of plant materials and convert them into protein. Loggerhead turtles are named for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles, allowing them to crush hard-shelled prey like clams and sea urchins. 1. Why? They have witnessed the fall of the dinosaurs and the rise of humanity. Q. Just like grass lawns, the seagrass needs to be cut short. The Ocean is the heart of the planet. Sea turtles have survived for millions of years but recently their populations have suffered due to human-induced threats that could lead to their eventual extinction. Give sea turtles at least 10 feet (3 m) of space. Sea turtles, manatees and dugongs, also known as herbivorous grazers, graze on the sea grass. Sea turtles also add balance to the food web in the way they feed. Adapted for these lengthy migrations, loggerheads have a small shell and enlarged flippers. Sea turtles are commonly found in oceans, bays, sounds, and near shore waters. The green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eremochelys imbricata) and the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles have very significant traditional importance through spiritual, ceremonial and also medicinal values. (The “green” in their name refers to the coloring the turles take on from the chlorophyll in the seagrass and algae they eat.) www.defenders.org 5 Things You Can Do To Save Sea Turtles These are most often female sea turtles coming to nest, and they can easily get spooked. Sea Turtles are known as a “keystone species”, which means that they are a very important part of the marine ecosystem and influence other animals around them. Besides, they are also nurseries for a variety of species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. They are less likely to be hunted for their meat or shell compared to other sea turtles. Sea turtles help to maintain the balance of the marine ecosystem, mainly the health of the grass beds and coral reefs. One of the biggest threats to sea turtles is the fishing industry. All six sea turtle species found in U.S. waters are protected by the Endangered Species Act.They are the green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley. One great way that kids can contribute to protecting sea turtles is by raising funds. Unfortunately, all sea turtles species are endangered and this is largely down to human activity. Turtles are no different and among the roles they play are as follows: Turtles are important as scavengers, herbivores, carnivores and often contribute significant biomass to the ecosystems. Major changes have occurred in the oceans because sea turtles have been virtually eliminated from many areas of the globe. If sea turtles disappear from the ocean, it wouldn’t only be a huge loss for future human generations but it would also threaten the longevity of other marine life. They regulate a variety of other organisms simply through eating them. According to a study conducted by The Ocean Conservancy’s 2015 Ocean Trash Index, plastic is the single greatest detriment to sea turtles. On the other hand, the adult sea turtle is prey to sharks and orcas while in the sea. Why is it important to save sea turtles? It is important that we protect every living organism on the earth to avoid disrupting any more ecosystems. 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