|
Case Study: Sea Turtle Sea turtles are reptiles that inhabit tropical and subtropical
seas throughout the world. Many different species of sea turtles currently face
extinction.
Sea turtles have large flippers that make them
remarkably adapted to life at sea. However, females must come ashore to lay their eggs in
the sand, therefore, all sea turtles begin their lives as tiny hatchlings on land. |
| Threats to the coastal
habitat of turtles (including beach and dune ecosystems) include rapid coastal development
(e.g. building of villas), coastal armoring (e.g. sea walls & rock revetments),
presence of inlet jetties, pollution of its lagoons, mangroves and salt marshes from the
mainland and beach-goers. In addition, humans and birds eat both turtles and turtle
eggs. Turtles have economic importance in many
Caribbean areas, since turtle meat and eggs comprise a part of the diet for locals.
In many ways, the demand for turtle products has led to a decline in this species.
However, because there is market demand for turtles, there is a market incentive to
protect the species from extinction.
Today, the green, hawksbill, kemp’s, leatherback
sea turtles are considered to be endangered, while the loggerhead and olive sea turtles
are regarded as threatened. Most of the species have recovery plans implemented by the
Federal agency, but other private agencies like the Archie Carr Refuge takes part in the
most significant land acquisition effort to protect the world’s populations of marine
turtles.
|
