turtle talk 2014

The Sea Turtle

Preservation SocietyPresents

Turtle Talk

Sea Turtles are Reptiles andFlorida is one of their Favorite

Spots

What is “The Sea Turtle Preservation Society”?

We are a not-for-profit all volunteer organization whose mission statement is “Helping Sea Turtles Survive.” We accomplish this through:

• Education and public outreach programs: o Schools and civic groups o Exhibits at area events

• Hands-on Permitted Fish and Wildlife Commission Activitieso Turtle Walkso Salvage and Stranding Networko Nest Surveys

• Partnership with Brevard Zoo to build the Brevard Sea Turtle Healing Center, a sea turtle medical facility in Brevard County

Education

School Classrooms

Local Organizations Environmental Fairs

Sea Turtle Walks

Egg laying process is illuminated with a specific type of red light used by STPS – NO other lights are allowed.

Conducting guided loggerhead sea turtle watches for visitors to our area during the months of June and July (Reservations start May 1st)

Sea Turtle Salvage and

Stranding Network

STERP (Sea Turtle Emergency Response Program) includes letter of authorization to participate in Washback Sea Turtle recovery.

Caring for sick, injured or dead sea turtles in Brevard County

Nest Surveys

Nesting Survey conducted daily throughout the summer nesting season.

Beach Cleanup and Turtle Krawl

STPS has adopted Coconut Point Park as part of the Keep Brevard Beautiful Adopt a Shore project. Cleanup is 1st Saturday after the 1st Thursday of each month from 8-10am.

Turtle Krawl race is in September and is the largest 5K race in Brevard County. TK is the major fund raiser for STPS Special Projects.

Laws That Protect Sea Turtles• Endangered Species Act

(ESA) of 1973– Leatherback - 1970– Loggerhead and Green added July 28, 1978Source NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources

• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) signed by 176 Nations to ensure international trade does not threaten survival of the species

Source www.cites.org

Archie Carr National Wildlife RefugeSea Turtle Conservation

• Established by Congress in 1989 to protect sea turtles and named after the ecologist Dr. Archie Carr, Jr.

• 20.5 Miles between Melbourne Beach & Wabasso Beach.

• Most significant area for Loggerhead nesting in Western Hemisphere, possibly now in the World.

• Most significant area for Green nesting in North America.

• Minor area for Leatherback nesting. Source: Sea Turtle Conservancy website

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

Represents the Nation's most important initiative to

protect the world's populations of marine turtles

Source: Conserveturtles.org

Source: Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

SPECIES 2013 2012 2011

Loggerhead 13,155 *18,809 11,841

Green *12,846 3,419 6,023

Leatherback 49 51 *77

Kemps Ridley 2 0 0

Archie Carr NWRSea Turtle Nest Update

* Indicates record year

Source: fwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/nesting/statewide/

2013 Florida Sea Turtle Nest Update

SpeciesBrevard County Statewide

Loggerhead 24,630 77,970Green 18,190 36,369Leatherback 76 895Kemps Ridley

2 4

Hawksbill 0 1

Sea Turtles

Sea TurtlesGeneral Information

• They have been around for 150 million years

• Archelon skeletons have been found in No & So Dakota Ne and Ks

• The largest skeleton ever found was 16’ long and 13’ wide

Archelon – ancestor to the modern day sea turtle

Adaptations to Marine Life• Air breathing – sea

turtles must come to the surface to breathe

• Modified feet and shells for swimming

Tortoise – high domed shellwith feet modified for walking

Relative Sizes of Species Found in Florida Waters

Kemps Ridley(Endangered)

Sea Turtle Species Found in Florida

Waters

Kemps Ridley

• Adult Size - 24-28 inches (61-71 cm)• Adult Weight - 80-100 Lbs (36-45 Kg)• Diet - crustaceans & mollusks

Kemps Ridley(Endangered)

Hawksbill(Endangered)

Sea Turtle Species Found in Florida

Waters

Hawksbill

• Adult Size - 30-36 inches (76-91 cm)• Adult Weight - 100-150 lbs (45-68 Kg)• Diet - sponges

Loggerhead(Threatened)

Kemps Ridley(Endangered)

Hawksbill(Endangered)

Sea Turtle Species Found in Florida

Waters

Loggerhead

• Adult Size - 32-41 in. (81-104 cm)• Adult Weight - 200-300 lbs (91-136 kg)• Diet - crustaceans & mollusks• Average 14,600 nests in ACNWR 2011-2013

Green(Endangered)

Loggerhead(Threatened)

Kemps Ridley(Endangered)

Hawksbill(Endangered)

Sea Turtle Species Found in Florida

Waters

Green

• Adult Size - 38-42 inches long (81-107 cm)• Adult Weight - 250-350 pounds (113-159 Kg)• Diet - marine grasses & algae• Average 7,400 nests in ACNWR 2011-2013

Green(Endangered)

Leatherback(Endangered)

Loggerhead(Threatened)

Kemps Ridley(Endangered)

Hawksbill(Endangered)

Sea Turtle Species Found in Florida

Waters

Leatherback

• Adult Size - 6-8 feet long (1.8-2.4 M)• Adult Weight - 700-1800 pounds (318-816 Kg)• Diet – jellyfish

Life Cycle of a Sea Turtle

Adult

Juvenile Hatchling

Egg

Mating Adults

Green Sea Turtle Body Pit

Eggs being deposited in the sand

Covering the Eggs

Covering and leaving the nest

Returning to the Sea

Turtle Tracks: Which Turtle Is It?

Loggerhead

Sea Turtle Tracks:Alternating Flippers

Loggerhead Nest

Sea Turtle Tracks:Parallel Flippers and Tail Drag

Green

Green Nest

Sea Turtle Tracks:Width of Tracks ~ 6’ across

Leatherback

Leatherback Nest

Hatchlings emerge from the nest 45 to 70 days later,

depending on species sand temperature and other factors

Sex of hatchlings is determined

approximately middle 3rd of incubation

period depending on

nest temperature

82ºF - males88ºF - females

or remember

Hot ChicksAnd

Cool Dudes

Emerging from the nest

Tiny Tracks from a Hatched Nest

Dash to the Sea

Hatchlings of Four Different Species

Loggerhead Hawksbill Green Leatherback

Hatchlings Swim 20 miles to Safety and Food

Blend in with Sargassum Seaweed

Threats To Sea Turtles

There are two main types of threats.

(1) Natural Predators

(2) Human Impacts•Global•Local

Raccoon predation of a turtle nest

Ants

Ghost Crabs

Sea gulls and other shore birds

Fish

Beach Erosion

Threats To Sea Turtles

There are two main types of threats.

(1) Natural Predators

(2) Human Impact•Global •Local

Commercial Fisheries

Shrimp Trawler with TEDs

Turtle Excluder Device (TED) for shrimp trawling nets

Egg Poaching

Products made from Turtles

Cosmetics

Food Items

Sea Walls and Armoring

Beach Renourishment

Man-made Artificial Nourishment

Natural beach rebuilding and dune stabilization

OR

Plastic

Fishing Line

Oil Spill

Fibropapillomatosis

Some turtles withFibropapillomatosiscan be rehabilitated

Boat Strikes

Beach Activity – Disturbing Nesting Turtle

Beach Lighting

Turtles need dark beaches. Hatchlings go toward brightest light.Reminder: Lights out May 1st – Oct 31st

Dogs on the Beach

Beach Obstructions: Items left on the Beach

Holes in the Beach

It’s a long journey and only 1 in 1000 survive to adulthood

“For most of the wild things on earth the future must depend upon the conscience of mankind” Dr. Archie Carr

Keep In Touch With STPS

Our Website:http://seaturtlespacecoast.org

On Facebook:https://facebook.com/SeaTurtlePreservationSociety

Photo Credits• Barbara Bergwerf • Rajiv Bhambri• Tammy Bolerjack• Carol Hansen• Dori Hughes• Alejandro Fallabrino• Fabio Picinato• Edward Rosack• Jay Wherley• Blair Witherington• Ann Zscheile