Hawkbill Turtle Essay
LITERATURE REVIEW The Hawksbill Turtle has become an alarmingly endangered species in recent years. The turtle’s biggest threat is humans. The Hawksbill turtles have been physically harmed and so have their habitats. Many Hawksbill turtles are accidently caught in fishing nets or hooks. When the turtles are captured or tangled in nets, they are prevented from receiving oxygen, so the turtle drowns to its death. Fishing hooks have violently stabbed and killed the turtles (Callender, 2013). Another factor that plays a hand in the extinction of Hawksbill turtle is illegal trade. People capture the turtles and use their body parts, especially the shells, for trading. The shells are brightly colored and have a unique design embedded in them. The shells are mainly used for trinkets and jewelry. “People harvest the Hawksbill turtles for their eggs and meat” (NOAA Fisheries, 2014). Despite the high levels of poisons that are found in the Hawksbill turtle’s flesh, they are still enjoyed as a delicacy by many cultures. “Since the Hawksbill turtle is listed under the Endangered Species Act as an endangered
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animal, it is illegal to capture, sell or trade the turtle’s shells, eggs and flesh” (NOAA Fisheries, 2014).
According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) people can help reduce and prevent accidental entanglement by using non-harmful hooks in the waters near the Hawksbill turtle’s habitat and by casting nets and gear away from the reefs. The organizers and members of WWF want to heighten the awareness of fishers encouraging them to fish in other areas and to cast their nets in deeper waters (WWF, 2012). The National Wild Federation is also concerned with the safety of the hatchlings on the beach. Many hatchlings have mistakenly walked toward the beach lighting instead of toward the water, leaving them vulnerable to predators. The NWF is urging costal developers to opt out of installing or using commercial beach lighting where turtles dig their nest. They have also suggested some alternative ideas such as using lower pressure lighting in the areas where nesting commonly occurs. The NWF is concerned about the destruction of the Hawksbill turtle’s habitat on land, the beaches are polluted from bonfire ashes, cans and other trash that is left behind. This trash interferes with the hatchlings as they journey into the water. Another concern is the pollution of the turtles’ underwater habitat. The waters have been polluted by debris and oil spills which end up suffocating the turtles (National Wildlife Federation, 2015).
The Hawksbill turtles hold an important role in its underwater ecosystem. The turtle’s distinctive features allow it to maneuver into very tight places around the coral reefs. The turtle’s unique body structure has acted as their guide to survival for many years. At a young age, the turtles have a decorative heart- shaped shell that eventually becomes oval as they grow. These turtles differ from the rest of the turtle species because they have a set of claws on their flippers that come in very useful for digging and foraging. Their claws help them grab food and even fight off small predators (Turtles, 2005).
The most important part of the Hawksbill turtle’s body structure is their mouth.
The federal agency NOAA Fisheries’ describes how the shape of the Hawksbill Turtle’s mouth allows it to capture its food from very hard to reach places. “The mouth of the turtle is “beak” shaped; this allows the turtles to reach into small holes in the coral reefs to grab sponges and algae” (NOAA Fisheries, 2014). The Hawksbill Turtle is an omnivore that feeds on different organisms, including many marine sponges (Wilson et al., 2001). The turtle’s diet primarily consists of sponges, which are mainly found on the coral reefs. “The sponges and algae are very hard to catch, so the turtle must stretch its neck and use its beak to hook and scoop up food. As the turtle’s feast on the sponges, the coral reefs are able to reproduce and new homes are opened up to small creatures” (NOAA,
2014).
“Some of the sponges that the Hawksbill turtles consume off of the coral reefs are very toxic to other animals. The Hawksbill turtle’s body fat can absorb these toxins easily without killing the turtles. The toxins do reside in the flesh of the turtles, causing their meat to be a risky treat to eat. A Hawksbill turtle consumes an average of 1200 lbs. of sponges a year” (National Wildlife Federation, 2015).
As the numbers of Hawksbill Turtles decline, the effects to the underwater life of coral reefs have risen. “The Hawksbill Turtle holds many roles in its ecosystem such as predator, prey, and carriers. Sponges are strong and are able to outgrow and consume spaces quickly on a coral reef. The Hawksbill Turtle keeps the sponge population balanced, by eating these poisonous creatures and creating space for coral reefs to reproduce. If the Hawksbill Turtle were to vanish from the marine environment, the sponges would spread and kill the reefs. The Hawksbill Turtle creates holes in the reefs when it eats off sponges; these holes become homes for other organisms in the ocean” (Brandis, 2010 b). The Hawksbill turtle is one of the extraordinary animals that are able to keep the underwater ecosystem stable. They feed on the sponges that are life threatening to small underwater creatures and the coral reef habitat. Without the turtles, the sponges will wildly multiply and dominate the coral reefs. The turtles are known for the amazing role that they play in the underwater ecosystem (Brandis, 2010 b).
animal, it is illegal to capture, sell or trade the turtle’s shells, eggs and flesh” (NOAA Fisheries, 2014).
According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) people can help reduce and prevent accidental entanglement by using non-harmful hooks in the waters near the Hawksbill turtle’s habitat and by casting nets and gear away from the reefs. The organizers and members of WWF want to heighten the awareness of fishers encouraging them to fish in other areas and to cast their nets in deeper waters (WWF, 2012). The National Wild Federation is also concerned with the safety of the hatchlings on the beach. Many hatchlings have mistakenly walked toward the beach lighting instead of toward the water, leaving them vulnerable to predators. The NWF is urging costal developers to opt out of installing or using commercial beach lighting where turtles dig their nest. They have also suggested some alternative ideas such as using lower pressure lighting in the areas where nesting commonly occurs. The NWF is concerned about the destruction of the Hawksbill turtle’s habitat on land, the beaches are polluted from bonfire ashes, cans and other trash that is left behind. This trash interferes with the hatchlings as they journey into the water. Another concern is the pollution of the turtles’ underwater habitat. The waters have been polluted by debris and oil spills which end up suffocating the turtles (National Wildlife Federation, 2015).
The Hawksbill turtles hold an important role in its underwater ecosystem. The turtle’s distinctive features allow it to maneuver into very tight places around the coral reefs. The turtle’s unique body structure has acted as their guide to survival for many years. At a young age, the turtles have a decorative heart- shaped shell that eventually becomes oval as they grow. These turtles differ from the rest of the turtle species because they have a set of claws on their flippers that come in very useful for digging and foraging. Their claws help them grab food and even fight off small predators (Turtles, 2005).
The most important part of the Hawksbill turtle’s body structure is their mouth.
The federal agency NOAA Fisheries’ describes how the shape of the Hawksbill Turtle’s mouth allows it to capture its food from very hard to reach places. “The mouth of the turtle is “beak” shaped; this allows the turtles to reach into small holes in the coral reefs to grab sponges and algae” (NOAA Fisheries, 2014). The Hawksbill Turtle is an omnivore that feeds on different organisms, including many marine sponges (Wilson et al., 2001). The turtle’s diet primarily consists of sponges, which are mainly found on the coral reefs. “The sponges and algae are very hard to catch, so the turtle must stretch its neck and use its beak to hook and scoop up food. As the turtle’s feast on the sponges, the coral reefs are able to reproduce and new homes are opened up to small creatures” (NOAA,
2014).
“Some of the sponges that the Hawksbill turtles consume off of the coral reefs are very toxic to other animals. The Hawksbill turtle’s body fat can absorb these toxins easily without killing the turtles. The toxins do reside in the flesh of the turtles, causing their meat to be a risky treat to eat. A Hawksbill turtle consumes an average of 1200 lbs. of sponges a year” (National Wildlife Federation, 2015).
As the numbers of Hawksbill Turtles decline, the effects to the underwater life of coral reefs have risen. “The Hawksbill Turtle holds many roles in its ecosystem such as predator, prey, and carriers. Sponges are strong and are able to outgrow and consume spaces quickly on a coral reef. The Hawksbill Turtle keeps the sponge population balanced, by eating these poisonous creatures and creating space for coral reefs to reproduce. If the Hawksbill Turtle were to vanish from the marine environment, the sponges would spread and kill the reefs. The Hawksbill Turtle creates holes in the reefs when it eats off sponges; these holes become homes for other organisms in the ocean” (Brandis, 2010 b). The Hawksbill turtle is one of the extraordinary animals that are able to keep the underwater ecosystem stable. They feed on the sponges that are life threatening to small underwater creatures and the coral reef habitat. Without the turtles, the sponges will wildly multiply and dominate the coral reefs. The turtles are known for the amazing role that they play in the underwater ecosystem (Brandis, 2010 b).