Plight of the Sea Turtles

Photo courtesy of Turtle Trax C UKB&PAB

Biology of Sea Turtles

Well-suited to life in the sea

Males rarely return to land

Females only return to lay eggs

Range from 85 to 2,000 lbs

Photo courtesy of Ray Carthy

Worldwide Turtle Species

LoggerheadGreenLeatherbackKemp’s RidleyOlive RidleyHawksbillFlatback

Biology of Sea Turtles

Cannot retract heads far into shell

Have lifespan of decades

Tropic and temperate reptiles

Carapace composed of scutes

Photo courtesy of Turtle Trax

Nesting Biology

Nest May-September Nest mostly at night 100 ping-pong ball

size eggs May return several

times a season Nest every 2-3 years Temperature of nest

determines sex of young

Photos courtesy of Ray Carthy

Female turtles often appear to

weep when nesting

Photo Courtesy of Ray Carthy

Nesting Behavior

Florida’s Sea Turtles

Sea turtle sampler…

LoggerheadGreen LeatherbackKemp’s RidleyHawksbill

Photo Courtesy of Turtle Trax C UKB & PAB

Green Turtle

Largely vegetarians 100 to 1000 nests Named for green

body fat Average 350 lbs Average length 3.3 ft Olive brown, dark

streaks and yellow plastron

Photo courtesy of Ray Carthy

Many of Florida’s green turtles have tumors called fibropapillomas.

Photo courtesy of Turtle Trax

Ocular Tumors

Photo courtesy of Turtle Trax

Leatherback Turtle

Photo Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

3000 ft divers

Regulate body temperature

30-60 nests

Leatherback StatsAverage 6 ft in lengthWeigh 500 to 1,500 lbsCovered in firm, leathery skinBlack with white, pink and blue

spotsEat jellyfishFound in Atlantic, Pacific, and

Indian oceansPhoto Courtesy of Ray Carthy

Loggerhead Turtle

Most common sea turtle in Florida

Photo courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Loggerhead Stats

Average of 275 lbs About 3 ft in length Ruddy brown on top,

yellow underneath Eats clams, crabs and

other crustaceans Falls prey to sharks

Photo courtesy of Ray Carthy

Mystery Illness

Photo courtesy of UFCVM

Kemp’s Ridley Turtle

The Kemp’s Ridley is the rarest sea turtle in the world and is considered the most endangered

Photo courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Kemp’s Ridley Stats

Weigh 85 to 100 lbsMeasure 2 to 2.5 ft longPrincipal diet is crabs and crustaceansOnly one major nesting beach called

Rancho Nuevo in MexicoFewer than 1000 nesting females

remainHeadstarted in Galveston, Texas

Photo Courtesy of Ray Carthy

Hawksbill Turtle

The Hawksbill is a small, agile turtle whose beautiful shell is its greatest liability Photo Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Hawksbill Stats

Adults weigh between 100 to 200 lbsAverage of 30 inches longBlack and brown markings on amberOval-shaped body and distinctive jawsSponges are preferred foodFound in Atlantic, Pacific, Indian oceans

Photo Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Threats to Turtles

Artificial Lights

Predators

Driving on beach

Photos courtesy of Ray Carthy

Lighting

Photos Courtesy of Ray Carthy

Crows and Ghost Crabs

Photos courtesy of Ray Carthy

Coyotes and Foxes

Photos courtesy of Ray Carthy

Raccoons

Photo Courtesy of Ray Carthy

Beach Driving

Photo by Margaret Lamont

Additional Threats to TurtlesAdditional Threats to Turtles

Trawling

TED’s

Pollution

Trawling

Photo courtesy of ACCSTR

An estimated 11,000 turtles died before TED’s were required

TED

Photo Courtesy of ACCSTR

Required in 1989

Allowed turtles caught to escape through a trap door

Turtle Exclusion Device

Photo Courtesy of ACCSTR

Pollution

Photo courtesy of Ray Carthy

Coastal ImpactsCoastal Impacts

Beach ArmoringCoastal DevelopmentBeach Renourishment

Beach Armoring

Seawalls, bulkheads, sandbags, etc.

Degrade nesting habitat

Photo courtesy of Florida Marine Research Institute

Coastal Development

Photo courtesy of Ray Carthy

Beach Renourishment

Provides nesting habitat Might affect site fidelity

90 projects are planned between 2000 and 2046

Type and size of sand might affect nesting

Photo by Margaret Lamont

Conservation Efforts

Research done

Organizations

Laws and Statutes

Photo courtesy of Turtle Trax

Research

Distribution, abundance, life histories Turtle deaths, disease, and their causes Identification of genetic stocks Sex-determination techniques Nesting ecology Effects of lights, beach armoring and renourishment

Photos courtesy of Ray Carthy

Bureau of Protected Species Management

Recovery program planning, management, and administration

Coordination of research and management activities

Habitat protection Education

The Sea Turtle section

Photo Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Participates in decisions regarding sea turtles and habitat

Reviews permits for coastal development

Field evaluationsEducational Activities

Photo courtesy of Ray Carthy

Florida Marine Research Institute

FMRI staff responds or coordinates response to all reported turtle strandings

Species, location, measurements, and anomalies are documented

Fresh carcasses are retained for necropsyThis info used to monitor and document

mortality factors

Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Laws and Statutes

Federal Endangered Species Act

Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act

Many county and municipality ordinances

Photo Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

How You Can Help

Photo courtesy of Ray Carthy

Solutions To Decrease Light

Turn off unnecessary lights

Don’t use decorative lights

Face lights away from the beach

Shield the light source Paint is a temporary

solution Replace exposed light

sockets with recessed

Replace fixtures with directional fixtures

Replace lights on poles Replace bulbs with

sodium-vapor or bug lights

Plant or improve vegetation buffers

Use shielded motion lights Apply window tint or

blinds. Move lights away from windows

Sick, Injured or Dead Sea Turtle

If you see a dead, sick or injured sea turtle call the Florida marine patrol at

1-800-DIAL-FMP orContact FMRI turtle stranding staff by

pager at 1-800-241-4653 (ID# 274-4867)

Be prepared to answer the following questions

What is the location of the turtle?Is the turtle alive or dead?What is the approximate size of

the turtle?Is the turtle marked with spray

paint?What is the location of the closest

access point to the turtle?

Photo by Margaret Lamont

Summary

Air-breathing reptilesSeven species of turtles; five in

FloridaAll are endangered or threatenedTemperature of nest determines

sex

Photo by Margaret Lamont

Summary

Threatened in many ways: coastal development, pollution, drowning in fishing nets, and light pollution

Research has focused on females and hatchlings

Protection remains a key goal in survival

Photo by Margaret Lamont

Acknowledgements

Developed by April Weaver and Dr. Mark Hostetler, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida

In conjunction with: Dr. Ray Carthy, USGS, BRD, Florida Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Florida Marine Institute

Environmental Defense

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Turtle Trax

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine

Acknowledgements

Photo credits:

Ray Carthy

Margaret Lamont

Turtle Trax-Ursula Keuper-Bennett & Peter Bennett

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine