turtle talk 2014
TRANSCRIPT
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