Sea Turtles
1) General Information
a) Synopsis of the creature
b) Their natural habitat
i) Shallow coastal waters
ii) Bays
iii) Lagoons
iv) Estuaries
c) Current population
d) Size
i) Average size for females
ii) Average size for males
iii) Largest turtle recorded
e) Senses (Describe what they can/can't do)
i) Smell
ii) Sound
iii) Sight
iv) Touch
v) Taste
f) Eating habits
i) Are they carnivores/herbivores?
ii) What do they typically eat
2) Types of Turtles
a) Kemps Ridley
i) Where are they found
ii) Distinguishing characteristics
iii) Average life span
iv) Special habits /predators/facts
b) Green
i) Where are they found
ii) Distinguishing characteristics
iii) Average life span
iv) Special habits /predators/facts
c) Olive Ridley
i) Where are they found
ii) Distinguishing characteristics
iii) Average life span
iv) Special habits /predators/facts
d) Leatherback
i) Where are they found
ii) Distinguishing characteristics
iii) Average life span
iv) Special habits /predators/facts
e) Loggerhead
i) Where are they found
ii) Distinguishing characteristics
iii) Average life span
iv) Special habits /predators/facts
f) Hawksbill
i) Where are they found
ii) Distinguishing characteristics
iii) Average life span
iv) Special habits /predators/facts
3) Nesting Behaviors
a) Adult Courtship
i) How do they pick their mate
ii) What patterns do they follow in mating
iii) What role does the female play in the nesting process
iv) What role does the male play in the nesting process
b) Incubation period
i) How long does it last
ii) How many are in a nest
c) Hatching
i) How long does it take to dig out of the sand
ii) How many usually hatch
iii) When do they usually hatch
iv) Do they all hatch (include brief info on dummy eggs)
d) How do the babies find their way
i) When do they usually hatch
ii) How do they find their way out to se
(1) Light intensities
(2) Internal magnetic compass
iii) Include information on the swimming frenzy
4) Role in our Ecosystem
a) How do turtles help beaches
i) Explain their role and how they help
ii) What negative impact would happen without them
b) What role do turtles have in the ocean
i) Explain their role and how they help
ii) What negative impact would happen without them
5) Threats to Sea turtles
a) Endangered v Critically endangered
i) What's the difference
ii) Which turtles are in which category
iii) What threat is the most damaging to the species (adult and babies)
b) Natural Predators
i) Adults
(1) Tiger Sharks
(2) Killer whales
(3) Foxes
(4) Dingoes
ii) Young Sea Turtles (More than 90% of hatchlings are eaten)
(1) Fish
(2) Birds
(3) Raccoons
(4) Dogs
c) Human Threats
i) Beach Development
(1) Noise and Activity
(a) Can scare away birthing mothers
(b) Can mess up nests
(2) Artificial Lighting
(a) Misrepresent time of day to mothers
(b) Disorients hatchlings
(3) Trash on Beach
(a) Can impede adult female turtles crawling up to nest
(b) Can kill turtles (adults and babies)
(4) Long line fishing and Shrimp nets
(a) More netting and fishing today
(b) Turtles get caught as bycatch
(c) Propeller or collision can kill them
6) Conservation
a) Methods of Conservation
i) Legal Protection
(1) Laws in place
(a) Illegal to interfere with endangered species
(b) The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
(2) Turtle Excluder Device
(a) What is it
(b) Who developed it and when
(c) How much does it cost, who must use it
(3) Wildlife Refugees
ii) Nest protection by Organizations
(1) Name some organizations
(2) Where it is happening
(3) Is this really helping
iii) Dig and relocation
(1) Name some organizations
(2) Where it is happening
(3) Is this really helping
iv) Lighting Ordinances
(1) Name some organizations
(2) Where it is happening
(3) Is this really helping
Helpful Links
Threats and conservation: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/
Easy to ready facts: http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/sea_turtle.html
Also good stuff: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_turtle
