Winter 2012

Turtles: Journey of Survival! Adventure Aquarium invites you to come out of your shell this winter to experience an exhibit over 200 million years in the making: Turtles: Journey of Survival! Witness a collection of exotic species of both land and aquatic turtles from all around the world, visiting for a limited time only.

From ancient to modern times, the story of the turtle is a journey of survival against the odds. Over millions of years, these species have developed incredible survival strategies and adaptations that have enabled them to thrive since prehistoric times. From a tiny rescued Loggerhead Sea turtle hatchling to a massive Alligator Snapping turtle, the largest freshwater turtle in North America, you’ll be invited to journey through a series of exhibits designed to highlight the evolution, biology, habits and unique characteristics of these remarkable reptiles. Visitors will

also learn about the many conservation efforts being employed to save these amazing animals and what each of us can do to help protect turtles in the wild. Experience turtles like never before from January 14 through March 24 at Adventure Aquarium on the Camden Waterfront, where there’s always more to see and do!

Inside this issue:

Tale of 3 Terrapins 2

Workshops 3

Migration Matters! 4

Turtles 101 7

Staff Contributors:

Sharon Morrell,

smorrell@njaas.org

Brie Ilenda,

gilenda@njaas.org

Estelle Kerdock,

ekerdock@njaas.org

Jack Carr,

jcarr@njaas.org

Judie Weinstein,

jweinstein@njaas.org

cars. Incredibly, many of the eggs the females are carrying are still viable. The unhatched eggs are carefully removed and placed into incubators, where temperature and humidity are carefully monitored at a setting that will result in mostly female hatchlings. The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ raises hundreds of orphan terrapins each year. When the babies finally hatch, they are given a “head start”, so that by the time they are released back into the salt marshes the following spring, they are healthy and several times larger than their wild-hatched cousins.

Terrapin ambassadors

Angie, Tina, and Jackie started life seven years ago at the Wetlands Institute. They came to us newly hatched, and no bigger than a quarter. Since then, they have grown to become among our most popular education animals. They have traveled all over the tri-state area, and have helped familiarize thousands of people with their incredible story. You can meet these terrapins and our other education animals by scheduling a Classroom Lesson when you visit Adventure Aquarium (1-800-616-JAWS), or by reserving a TrOutreach program to visit your school (troutreach@njaas.org or 856-361-1024).

Angie, Tina, and Jackie are orphans. Under ordinary circumstances, one would expect their story to be a sad one. But Angie, Tina, and Jackie are not ordinary orphans, and their story is an extraordinary tale filled with perils, but ending with hope. You see, Angie, Tina, and Jackie are diamondback terrapins.

Unique individuals

The word “terrapin” comes from the Native American word for turtle. Diamondback terrapins are named for the diamond pattern of the scutes (hard scales) on their carapace (top shell). Their species is found exclusively in brackish water: that is, water that is salty, but not as salty as seawater. They inhabit tidal marshes, estuaries, and lagoons along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast from Cape Cod to Texas, and are the only exclusively brackish water turtle species. This alone would make them unique, but their individuality does not stop there. Each terrapin has an array of spots or stripes on its legs and head that are as individual as fingerprints, making them one of the most striking turtles in the world.

Expen$ive dining

Diamondback terrapins were used as food by Native Americans, who roasted them whole over live coals. They became a gourmet item in the 1800’s as the main ingredient in terrapin soup. This soup was so popular that sterling silver bowls and spoons were made just

to serve this high-priced delicacy. Numbers had declined precipitously by the early 1900’s. Salvation came from an unlikely source: Prohibition. The other essential ingredient in terrapin soup, sherry, became illegal, and so the terrapins were granted a reprieve.

Modern perils

Diamondback terrapins barely escaped extinction due to their tastiness at the beginning of the 20th century; now, 100 years later, they face a new and even greater threat. The idyllic coastlines where these reptiles make their homes are also coveted places for human habitation. And, like all reptiles, diamondback terrapins must lay their eggs on dry land. So, each spring, pregnant females make the migration from their marshy homes to high ground to lay their clutches of up to 20 papery-shelled eggs. And for many of these females, the journey is their last. Hundreds are struck by cars and killed. Angie, Tina, and Jackie’s mother was one of these victims.

Not death, but survival

Fortunately for our three terrapins, this is the beginning rather than the end of their story. Scores of dedicated volunteers, including many college students from Stockton College (Galloway, NJ), patrol the roadways during terrapin nesting season, looking out for females that have been struck by

A Tale of Three Terrapins

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Winter 2012

TIDEings for Teachers

Teacher Professional Development

The Fish in Your Dish

January 21st 10AM – 12PM, OR February 16th 1PM – 3PM

Do you think fish sticks are fabulous? Does salmon make you smile? If you have ever wondered about your place in the ocean food chain, then this Professional Development

Workshop is for you! During The Fish in Your Dish, we will discuss the seafood supply chain, how the fishing industry affects the marine ecosystem, and which seafoods are the most sustainable choices for your table. Materials, group activities, and games appropriate for a variety of ages will be presented.

The Tooth About Sharks

January 21st 1PM – 3PM, OR February 16th 10AM – 12PM

Attend this information packed workshop and learn how to integrate that most fearsome (and misunderstood) ocean denizen, the shark, into your classroom! We will discuss shark biology, ecology, and conservation as we debunk myths and lay out the whole “tooth” about sharks. We will explore such topics as the diversity of shark species, shark diets, prehistoric sharks, and the sharks of New Jersey. Materials, group activities, and games appropriate for a variety of ages will be presented.

Teach at the Beach 2013

Did you miss NJEA? We did, too! NJAAS is pleased to offer 2 days of professional development workshops in early 2013! Catch up on your development hours and enjoy a trip to Adventure Aquarium! Visit www.njaas.org to register. You can register for one or both sessions on each workshop day. The cost is $35 for one workshop, $60 for the full day. Lunch and parking are not included. Admission to Adventure Aquarium is included in your workshop fee for the teacher attending the workshop only. If you are bringing family or guests, they must pay general admission.

Join us May 17, 2013 for a day of professional development on the Delaware Waterfront. The New Jersey Academy for

Aquatic Sciences is partnering with Adventure Aquarium and the Independence Seaport Museum to host the New

Jersey Marine Education Association's annual conference, Teach at the Beach.

Teach at the Beach will have a wide variety of offerings for teachers of all grade levels. From

Turtles, to Invertebrates, to Underwater ROVs, to Sharks, you’ll have a full day of professional

development and fun!

Pre-registration is required and spaces are limited, so register early! Cost is $75.00, which

includes conference registration, lunch, annual membership to NJMEA and admission to

Adventure Aquarium and the Independence Seaport Museum.

For more information or for the full brochure,

please visit our website.

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Migration Matters: A Sea Turtle Activity for Middle Schoolers

Page 4 TIDEings for Teachers

When you think of migration, you probably think of the familiar sight of

a “V” of Canada Geese, honking overhead in the autumn. Birds are not

the only animals that migrate, and colder temperatures are not the only

reason for migration. Animals such as elk, sharks, and even butterflies

migrate great distances every year! Some reasons for a population of

animals to migrate are: to find a better food supply, to avoid bad

weather, or to find better conditions to raise their offspring.

The migration habits of sea animals are difficult to study. Often, many

scientists using expensive computer tracking equipment are required.

There is a lot we do not know about the migratory habits of some of the

largest sea animals, such as the Whale Shark. If your students have an interest in becoming Marine Biologists, they

may answer some of these questions! We do know that all 7 species of sea turtle migrate. The relatively small Kemp’s

Ridley Sea Turtle migrates a few hundred miles per year, never losing sight of the coastline along the Gulf of Mexico.

The largest sea turtle, the Leatherback, can travel 10,000 miles in a single year, across the deepest oceans.

The activity below invites your students to role-play a Loggerhead migration. Loggerhead Sea Turtles are a medium-

sized species. Their shells reach lengths of approximately three feet. The average Loggerhead weighs about 300

pounds. They eat jellyfish, crabs, and occasionally sea grass. Loggerheads migrate across the Atlantic, from here in

New Jersey, up the East Coast, across the ocean to the Azores islands, down the West Coast of Africa past the Canary

Islands, back across the Atlantic to Cuba, and up the East Coast towards us in New Jersey again.

Place the posters or papers in the order below on the floor or on a wall around your classroom or down a hallway,

with a single die at cards #1, #7, and #9. Appoint a scorekeeper to tally the mortality rate your class observes. Good

Luck!

Materials Needed:

3 dice

1 Tally Sheet or Whiteboard or Computer Screen for keeping track of successful migrations

12 posters or papers, with the following printed on them:

-Start Your Journey! It’s Migration Day! You will need to stock up on fuel for your long trip, if it has been a bad year for

jellyfish, you won’t get as far. Roll the die to see how many spaces you can advance. A low number means that you

could not store up as much jelly-power as you’d like.

-Clear Sailing! My, the weather is nice today, and it is easy to find your way, skip ahead 2 places.

-Lose your Way. You somehow become separated from your bale (that’s what you call a group of sea turtles). You

don’t know the way on your own! Go back to Migration Day and start over.

Winter 2012

Page 5 TIDEings for Teachers

-Plenty of Jellies! It’s a buffet out here! Eat all you can, and skip ahead 2 spaces.

-Boats, Boats, and more Boats! There are many, many very noisy boats out on the ocean today. It is very hard for your

bale to navigate with all the wake and noise from the boat motors. “Swim” around this card 10 times in confusion

before you can continue on to the next space.

-Tag, You’re It! A friendly team of scientists catch you and attach a tracking device to your shell so that they can learn

more about your migration route. It does not hurt at all, though you are kind of confused. They let you go and you keep

swimming to the next space.

-Jellyfish Mistake. You see a HUGE, tasty jellyfish ahead, just for you. Unfortunately, things are not what they seem. It’s

really a plastic bag, floating in the ocean. Every year, thousands of turtles get confused like this. When you eat this

“jelly”, it becomes stuck in your stomach. Roll the dice, if you get an even number, sit down and rest here for a count of

20 and move on 3 spaces, but if you roll an odd number, then your stomach was no match for the “jelly”. You do not

make it this migration; let the scorekeeper know that you have died!

-Swim all Night. Hummm, this open ocean is kind of scary, no land in sight! Turtles often swim for days on end with

only a few naps in between when they cannot see the shoreline. Make sure you keep your eyes open (and flippers

moving!) until you reach your destination! Go to the next space.

-Fishing for Trouble! You become tangled in a fishing net that has been left to drift by some careless human! Sea

Turtles are reptiles, and need air to breathe. Some turtles that become tangled in nets drown, others have trouble

eating or swimming. Roll the dice. If you roll an even number, then you are tangled in the net, but can continue your

migration by moving ahead to the next space. You must hop the rest of the way on one foot. If you roll an odd number,

then you do not survive the net. Let the scorekeeper know that you did not make it, this migration!

- Sargassum City! There sure is a lot of the seaweed sargassum out here. That’s good for you; you can have a place to

hide from predators. The sargassum is almost the exact same color as your shell. Move ahead one space.

-Tiger SHARK! They have been known to feast on sea turtles, but a full grown Loggerhead is a big challenge, even for

this top predator. Still, better double back, just to confuse him. Go back 3 spaces.

-Skyscraper Light, Skyscraper Bright. Almost to your nesting grounds….but

hey…..what’s over there? Turtles are often confused when the light of the moon

by which they traditionally navigate pales in comparison to the lights that humans

set up on the beach. Wander around confused for a count of 50 before moving

ahead one space UNLESS another turtle lands on this space at the same time as

you, then the two of you can move ahead one space together to…

MIGRATION OVER! You have made it safely back to New Jersey. It’s been a long,

scary journey, and you get to do it again next year!

Migration Matters, continued

Page 6 TIDEings for Teachers

Turtle Coloring Page Color this picture of Shelldon the Sea Turtle, then write 3 facts you learned about turtles!

Turtle Fact #1:

_______________________________

_______________________________

Turtle Fact #2:

_______________________________

_______________________________

Turtle Fact #3:

_______________________________

_______________________________

Winter 2012

Turtles 101

TIDEings for Teachers

Need More Turtle Activities?

Visit Educator Inlet and check out the great resources

we’ve put together to enhance your visit!

Check out the “Turtle Tour Book” for information about

the new species on exhibit from January 14—March 24,

and for turtle related activities and resources.

What’s the difference between a turtle and tortoise?

How do you know if the animal you’re looking at is a Turtle or a

Tortoise? Turtles, tortoises and terrapins all belong to the same group of

animals – The Chelonians. Chelonians are reptiles with a shell, and there are

about 245 different kinds. The term turtle describes the Chelonians that are

aquatic or semi-aquatic. The term tortoise describes a Chelonian that lives

primarily on land. And to make matters even more complicated, a terrapin is a semi-aquatic turtle that lives in

brackish water, where salt and fresh water come together (see “A Tale of Three Terrapins” for their story!).

What are some ways you can decide if the shelled animal you are looking at is a turtle or a tortoise?

Feet: Tortoises have clubby feet, like an elephant. Turtles have webbed feet or flippers that are good for

swimming.

Shells: Tortoises have high domed shells, while turtles have more flattened shells. The flattened shell makes

them more streamlined for swimming faster.

Scales: Tortoises have thicker scales, which help keep in moisture in their desert-like habitats. Turtles scales

are thinner and smoother.

Habitat: Tortoises live on land, while turtles can live on both land and in the water.

All turtles are reptiles. They lay eggs, breathe air using lungs, and are ectothermic, or cold-

blooded. Turtles are found on every continent except Antarctica.

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The New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences promotes the understanding,

appreciation and protection of aquatic life and habitats through research,

education and youth development programs.

Deep Sleep Overnight Adventure:

Raiders of the Lost Shark! Put on your fedora, dig your picks and shovels out of

the closet, and get ready for ADVENTURE! Join the

New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences as we

explore Adventure Aquarium and search for the

mysterious “Lost Shark” Idol while learning about

sharks from around the globe!

Visit www.njaas.org for more

information or to register!

Guess who’s coming back to Adventure Aquarium in April? Stay tuned for the

next edition of “TIDEings for Teachers” to find out!