Summary:
Scientists and conservationists published this study to explain the long-distance migrations of leatherback turtles from Costa Rica to the South Pacific Gyre. The scientists included specific methods, like tagging, to observe the movements of the leatherback population in the eastern Pacific. Results confirm certain factors influencing migratory patterns for leatherbacks, like strong ocean currents. Ocean migrations of leatherback turtles present government official and scientists opportunities for conservation.
The migratory patterns of leatherback sea turtles have posed a concern for conservation. The leatherback population in the eastern Pacific has declined more than 90% over the past two decades due to certain factors, such as habitat loss and unsustainable egg harvest. Scientists have tracked 46 females over a 4-year period, which is the largest multi-year study of leatherbacks. Leatherbacks that were studied spend about 60 days around their nesting beaches on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Results of tracking leatherbacks indicate that the leatherbacks followed a predictable route with a specific direction.
Materials and Methods:
Scientists used special tagging devices to keep track of movements and temperatures of leatherback turtles during their migration. They covered possible factors that contributed to the leatherbacks’ movements in the ocean, such as ocean currents and food supply. They decided to remove the influence of currents from the leatherbacks’ trajectory to observe the true behavior of a turtle, which could possibly be considered as the control group to compare true behavior with influenced behavior. They also measured the area region in which the leatherbacks traveled along the eastern Pacifi...
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...e species, since leatherbacks migrate through international waters. Fisheries would also be able to maintain their business during certain times of the days without intervening in the leatherback migration. This study also provided the largest tracking dataset ever recorded for leatherbacks. However, this type of data only presented the beginning of the non-reproductive period for female leatherbacks; therefore more research is needed to fully understand the behaviors of leatherbacks.
Works Cited
Shillinger, George L., Daniel M. Palacios, Helen Bailey, Steven J. Bograd, Alan M. Swithenbank, Philippe Gaspar, Bryan P. Wallace, James R. Spotila, Frank V. Paladino, Rotney Piedra, Scott A. Eckert, and Barbara A. Block. "Persistent Leatherback Turtle Migrations Present Opportunities for Conservation." Ed. Georgina M. Mace. PLoS Biology 6.7 (2008): E171. Print.
P6: ‘The animals behaviour and natural instinct changes in a marine park compared to in its natural habitat’ (para 3).
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
There has been a steep decline in sea otter populations due to water pollution and exploitation of furs. This has adversely affected marine ecology. It is therefore suggested that sea otters should be included in the endangered species list to protect them from further exploitation. This study focuses on the community ecology of sea otters and their impact on marine ecology. The need for their inclusion in the Endangered Species list and the implications of such an intervention are also evaluated.
In Mexico City on September 4th thousands of sea turtles came out of the ocean the lay their eggs. Tourist were not being respectful of the turtles by taking pictures and posing their children on top of the turtle's backs which made them return to the sea. Yamileth Baltodano, a tour guide who was at the scene said, “It was a mess”. The nesting season is from August through October, which is Costa Rica's rainy season, usually provides a natural border to help protect the turtles. Through this time the beach is cut off by the flood tide of the swollen Nosara River. This year was different due to the low rainfall caused by El Nino left the river dry, making access to the beach super simple. Officials are working to make changes before the next
Loggerhead turtles are becoming endangered more and more often. Not many people understand the dangers that these turtles are in, especially when the females are nesting. Nesting takes an important role in the lives of these turtles and is an amazing process that occurs during the season. Unfortunately, many factors disturb the process of these hatching eggs. This paper explains these factors in depth to educate the audience about the dangers involved in loggerhead nesting. Light pollution, natural disasters, and predators are described and explained as to why they affect the process of nesting. Many organizations are trying to share their knowledge on these loggerhead-nesting dangers with people and are trying to help keep the loggerheads alive.
In this research report I will discuss the Killer Whales unique characteristics; complex migratory patterns, how and why it is endangered, and most importantly how we can help them.
Park, is a sea turtle sanctuary offering extensive protections for the animal and its habitat. The
Cetaceans are thought to be some of the most intelligent species on this planet. Popular culture has embraced the idea of cetacean intelligence with shows such as the 1960s hit TV series Flipper, where a dolphin is used to help fight crime. In his comedic science fiction novels, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, author Douglas Adams suggests that dolphins are the second most intelligent creatures on Earth, behind mice and above humans. Although most scientists would probably argue that humans are the most intelligent species, the behavior and brain size of dolphins and other cetaceans suggests that they too are intelligent. This paper will briefly describe the reason some scientists believe cetaceans are intelligent species and then give examples of scientific studies, which suggest cetacean intelligence. Since bottlenose dolphins and orcas are the most widely studied cetaceans, the survey of field studies will primarily focus on these two species. At the end, this paper provides an argument of why some scientists discredit the high degree of cetacean intelligence.
Introduction Caretta caretta, otherwise known as the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, is an oceanic turtle that exist throughout the globe. They are circumtropical species (LeBlanc et al. 2014) meaning they are distributed throughout temperate and tropical ocean regions, but most abundant species are found in the United States coastal range. Loggerheads largest nesting aggregations in the Atlantic are found along the southeastern United States coastal range where about 80% of all nesting occurs and 90% of all hatchlings are produced (Abecassis et al. 2013).
Sea turtles are a very well known marine species. But not many people really know the true stories behind sea turtles. They are considered a very endangered species in the marine ecosystem therefore the aim of this study is to inform people a more in depth view of sea turtles, including the characteristics of sea turtles. Such as, the different types of sea turtles, their habitats, and their reproductive system. Also a few real life cases that involves stories about sea turtles that are harmed. The results of this study implied that human actions could effect the sea turtles population, as well as other aquatic animals.
The beauty of life becomes apparent from the tail end of a five hundred pound turtle. Crouching uncomfortably, my hands under her cloaca, I caught the eggs. Each made a subtle ‘plop’ as each cue ball-shaped egg exited the safety her womb and found its new home in the plastic bag held between my hands. It was a frigid January night in Costa Rica, and I was working with The Leatherback Trust to relocate the eggs of the highly endangered leatherback turtle in order to ensure they were safe from environmental harm. My cohorts and I worked tirelessly, patrolling the beach for hours on end in the darkness of the night to find the rare vulnerable turtle making her tire-track trail up the wet sand of the beach to her final nesting place.
Essentially, their heads are like compasses and they memorize the pull of the magnetic field at their home beach. Simon Benhamou experimented with impairing adult female green turtle’s geomagnetic compass by attaching a strong magnet to their heads until they were released in a random location in the ocean. Despite this impairment, “the turtles of both groups [with and without magnets] were nevertheless able to [return] home”(Benhamou). In another experiment, Benhamou placed hatchlings in a tank surrounded my coils that allowed him to alter the magnetic field within the tank. The hatchlings began swimming east (the direction of the Atlantic Ocean) but when Benhamou reversed the magnetic field to the west the hatchlings changed directions. Other popular theories for sea turtle navigation include sun position and sense of
Lotze, Heike K., Marta Coll, Anna M. Magera, Christine Ward-Paige, and Laura Airoldi. "Recovery of Marine Animal Populations and Ecosystems." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 26.11 (2011): 595-605. Print.
There are many reasons why dolphins are very intelligent animals, there are 33 different types of marine dolphins, 4 types of river dolphins, and 6 types of porpoises (dolphins are mammals). Some of the dolphinspeople may think they would be whales, because of their looks, but they are dolphins. Dolphins have a strong behavior; they are very social and travel in groups together. They commonly swim in groups of 2-15 . Severalof different groups of dolphins may temporarily join, for several minutes or hours. In the open waters of theocean, some dolphins will leave their group and change associates and adapt with different dolphins threw outtime (Dolphins communication). In the groups, some members will form a strong bond with one another in thepod. The sizes of the groups tend to increase with the water depth of the ocean and the openness of the habitat, this usually happens when protection with strong with each other and foraging st...