{"id":12,"date":"2023-06-19T13:36:59","date_gmt":"2023-06-19T13:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2023-06-19T14:45:56","modified_gmt":"2023-06-19T14:45:56","slug":"2-sea-turtle-conservation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/?page_id=12","title":{"rendered":"2 Sea Turtle Conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

In addition to the rising sea level\u2019s impact on critical nesting habitats, a warming climate may also result in severely imbalanced sex ratios in hatchlings, with potentially catastrophic implications for the long-term survival of the species.  Conservation biologists across the globe have been studying this unique impact of climate change on sea turtle populations and evaluating possible mitigation strategies to help maintain populations of these creatures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this unit, you\u2019ll look at the relationship between climate change and these important marine icons and explore how local actions can help lower the risk.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Problem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These charismatic keystone species<\/a> <\/a>share the \u201ccelebrity\u201d status of other highly visible species like polar bears and the American eagle  <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, of course, as keystone species, the turtles play important roles<\/a> <\/a>in the structure and function of marine ecosystems<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite a widespread recognition of the importance of these marine creatures, the globe\u2019s seven sea turtle species are all listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature\u2019s (IUCN)<\/a> <\/a>Red List of Threatened Species<\/a>:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sea turtles are threatened by<\/a> <\/a>a host of human activities, including coastal development, plastics, vessel strikes, bycatch, illegal poaching, habitat destruction, invasive species, and water pollution<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to this long list of threats<\/a>,<\/a> sea turtles are also uniquely affected by climate change<\/a>,<\/a> with direct (imbalanced hatchling sex ratios<\/a>)<\/a> and indirect (sea level rise threatening breeding grounds<\/a>) impacts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Role of Climate Change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a process known as temperature<\/a>–<\/a>dependent sex determination<\/a> <\/a>(TSD), the temperature of the developing eggs determines if hatchlings will be male or female<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each species has a \u201cpivotal\u201d temperature<\/a> <\/a>where the result is an equal proportion of male and female hatchlings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This combination of longevity and TSD<\/a> <\/a>makes species like sea turtles particularly sensitive to climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Solutions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For example, impacts of coastal development can be minimized with strategic habitat protection efforts and nesting exclusion zones, while <\/a>new technologies <\/a>c<\/a>an help limit nest predation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many governments are enacting various plastic reduction policies<\/a> <\/a>to minimize the impacts of plastic pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some scientists are currently testing the effectiveness of installing artificial shade<\/a> <\/a>structures<\/a> <\/a>and even nest watering to help lower nest temperature (Hill et al. 2015). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, as has been done during other environmental crises like the Wide Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, nests<\/a> <\/a>may be relocated<\/a> <\/a>to improve hatching success.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unit Challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Scenario:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After familiarizing yourself with the Playa Grand ecosystem<\/a> <\/a>and consulting the literature on sea turtle nesting site mitigation measures, you\u2019ve chosen to analyze and compare these three options:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Build Your Foundational Knowledge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shade Structures (Costa Rica)<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Totally cool turtles may help save species<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shade and Irrigation (Columbia):<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Controlling Sand Temperatures for Sea Turtles in<\/a> <\/a>the Choco Region of Colombia<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relocation and Irrigation (Florida):<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s Gettin\u2019 Hot in Here, So Water All Your Eggs<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a> <\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1.3.1 Small Group Guided Worksheets<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Additional sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shading sea turtle nests<\/strong>: \u2018Nest Shading\u2019 Conservation<\/a> <\/a>Technique Must<\/a> <\/a>Be Carefully Deployed in Order to Protect Sea Turtle Populations,<\/a> <\/a>According to New Study <\/a>\u2013 <\/a>Drexel News Blog<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irrigating nests<\/strong>: Researchers Are Cooling Down Turtle Nests for<\/a> <\/a>Conservation Purposes | Plants And Animals (labroots.com)<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relocating nests:<\/strong> Relocating a Sea Turtle Nest <\/a>\u2013 <\/a>Ocean Pancake<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In addition to the rising sea level\u2019s impact on critical nesting habitats, a warming climate may also result in severely imbalanced sex ratios in hatchlings, with potentially catastrophic implications for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1574,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1574"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions\/45"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/mcintosh_pontius_links\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}