Behavior and Conservation

Marine Turtles

Reproduction

Mate in the waterAppear to rely on visual cues for species and sex recognitionOviparous

Nesting Behavior

A few weeksafter mating:

Nesting Behavior

Egg pit

Arribada

Growth and Development

Shell protects embryos from desiccation

Growth and Development

Sex determined by temperature

3 Types A – most crocs and some lizards B – many turtles C – crocs, lizards and some turtles

Growth and Development

Marine Turtles

Male Female

Growth and Development

Caruncle

Migrations

Macrogeographic migrationsLoggerhead

http://www.seaturtle.org/sandbox/animalmap.html

Migrations

Green TurtleAscension Island

Migrations

Navigational Cues Earth’s magnetic field Water-borne Auditory Wind-borne

Conservation

Many are threatened and endangered:Loggerhead = ThreatenedGreen = FL and P. coast of Mexico Endangered; all others threatenedHawksbill = EndangeredKemp’s = EndangeredLeatherback = Endangered

Conservation

Management and Protection Beach habitat protection Lighting ordinances End plastic pollution

TED’s

Turtle Excluder Device