Sea Turtle Biology – Guest Lecture!

Question 1

Egg Stage

Answer 1

Hatchlings incubate for 50-70 days in holes on the beach

Question 2

Hatchling Stage

Answer 2

Hatchlings emerge and crawl to the brightest horizon

Question 3

Post-Hatchling Stage

Answer 3

Hatchings swim away from land towards the open ocean. Lasts 2-5 years.

Question 4

Juvenile Stage

Answer 4

Return to coastal waters. Lasts 2-30+ years

Question 5

Adult Stage (Mating)

Answer 5

Breeding grounds located near nesting beaches

Question 6

Adult Stage (Nesting)

Answer 6

Lay eggs 1-3 times a year. Lay a lot of eggs at a time.

Question 7

How is the gender of a turtle determined?

Answer 7

The temperature of the nest influences it. High temps = females, low temps = males

Question 8

What stage(s) are turtles vulnerable?

Answer 8

All of them

Question 9

What species of turtle does mass nesting?

Answer 9

The Ridley sea turtle

Question 10

What is the greatest threat to turtles?

Answer 10

Humans

Question 11

What are some of the major changes occurring in the Anthropocene that may impact turtle populations?

Answer 11

Ocean is warming, acidifying, plastic increase.

Question 12

Why are plastic bags a particular issue for turtles? (also applies to other animals)

Answer 12

They can cause suffocation, starvation, other bad things