Thematic report: Marine environment- Sea turtlesby Asmita Gaire | 21-06-2020 03:16 |
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 As I belong to a landlocked country, I find myself so unfortune for not getting chance to enjoy marine environment. I personally love sea turtles much. So I thought of writing on it. Sea turtles are one of the Marine reptiles. It has existed since the time of dinosaurs. There are seven species of turtle today with leatherback the largest which is 8 feet and weigh 2000pounds. It can lay more than 150eggs at a time. She lays egg in the beaches in sand. When baby turtles hatches out and grow they return to sea. However, half of the baby turtles become target of predators and only half survive and can reach the sea. Regarding sex of sea turtle, it is determined by the temperature not the sex chromosome. Around 88¡ÆF, hatchlings grow as female sea turtles and around 82¡ÆF, they grow as male. Meaning thereby, at higher temperature female are determined and at lower temperature, sea turtles grow as male. Sea turtle has a geomagnetic ability and use geographic earth magnetic field for navigation. It acts as internal GPS. Sea turtle has magnetite mineral which contributes in it. It's the magnetic ability that draws hatchling to move towards sea, and after many years, it is the same magnetic ability that draws sea turtle back to beaches for laying eggs. However, this incredible creatures are in the threat of extinction. Not only the single species but all the species are in the threat. IUCN has put them in Red status. Their population has dramatically decreased. It is supposed fishing has contributed their population to decrease. It's either due to accidentally trapped in fish net or were targeted for reason in the net. Moreover, illegal poaching, turtle marketing and its products has also added to decrease its population. Likewise, sea pollution has also largely affected their life cycle causing them to decline. Efforts are being made to preserve them. Many agencies have conserved and protected their eggs and released them after hatching into sea. Let's contribute from our level to conserve and protect these ancient marine animals to live more longer in the Marine ecosystem. Pic source: https://images.app.goo.gl/KCN3Acgx4tqgprzn7 |
