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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the diet of sea turtles in the Mediterranean?

Euroturtle
Loggerhead turtles generally geed on both plants and animals but they are mainly carnivorous. Their diet contains various species of algae, including Sargassum weed, which as hatchlings they also utilize as a 'float'. After emerging from their nests, leaving the beach, and moving into the open sea, they drift into deeper water which carries them into the Sargassum weed.

Why the Mediterranean diet?

Olive Leaf FAQ Immune Antioxidant
Like the polyphenolic component of red wine, resveratrol, oleuropein imparts some important antioxidant benefits that may help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and support healthy heart function. Olive Leaf causes bad cholesterol to slip off platelets in blood vessels, preventing it from sticking to them and causing health coronary artery clogging.

What are the main threats to Mediterranean sea turtles?

Euroturtle
Anthropogenic (human caused) threats are numerous and include degradation and/or loss of nesting habitat, sand compaction through driving vehicles on nesting beaches, sand raking and/or removal, marine pollution and disease, incidental catch by fisheries (specifically shrimp trawlers and long lines), boat strike by speeding boats, tourism development, etc. Currently, the biggest threat to sea turtles is fishing activity, with incidental catches of thousands of turtles each year.

I heard about a promising "Mediterranean diet." What is it?

LifeHeart.com
The "Mediterranean diet" centers around fruits, vegetables, starches, beans, nuts, seeds, and low to moderate amounts of dairy products, poultry, and fish. Olive oil is used for cooking, and modest amounts of wine are included. The consumption of red meat and eggs are limited. One study found that heart attack survivors who followed a Mediterranean diet were 50% to 70% less likely to have a repeat heart attack than survivors who ate a typical Western diet.

How many sea turtles are there?

Atlantic Sea Turtles: Frequently Asked Questions: Sea Turtle...
Accurate population numbers are hard to determine because turtles seldom come onto land where they can be counted. What is known is that the population of several species of sea turtles is in steep decline. The Kemp's ridley is probably the most endangered; it nests on only one beach in the world, in Mexico. The populations of loggerheads and green turtles also appear to be in trouble.

Why are there no tides in the Mediterranean Sea?

EasyTide - on-line tidal predictions from the UKHO
All the tides we experience on Earth are generated in the Great Oceans as a result of their response to the tide raising forces generated by the gravitational attraction between the Earth, the Moon and the Sun. If the natural resonance period of the body of water matches the frequency of the tide raising forces then it will respond accordingly and a tide is generated. For example, the Atlantic has a natural period of resonance in the order of 12.

What can I do to help protect sea turtles during the nesting season?

Frequently Asked Questions
Do not disturb or handle any sea turtles, their eggs or their nests. All are violations of both federal and state laws. Avoid visiting the sea turtle nesting beaches at night during the summer unless you are with a guide permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Prevent all lights from illuminating, or being visible from, the beach including security lights, balcony and porch lights, flashlights and car headlights.

What should be done with misdirected hatchling sea turtles found on the beach?

Frequently Asked Questions
Hatchling sea turtles found wandering away from the ocean should be taken to a darkened portion of beach and allowed to walk into the surf on their own. Hatchlings that do not crawl vigorously can be placed in the ocean and allowed to swim away. In all cases, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Division of Law Enforcement (1-800-404-FWCC), their Bureau of Protected Species Management, or one of their local offices.

How much do sea turtles weigh?

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Sea turtles range in size from the 75–100 pound Kemp's ridley to the 1,300 pound, 8-foot-long leatherback.

When do sea turtles nest?

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
The main nesting months run from May to October, but there are many exceptions to the rule. Leatherbacks have been known to start as early as February, and depending on water temperature, hatchlings emerge well into the winter months.

How many different types of sea turtles are there?

Barbados Sea Turtle Project
There are seven different species of sea turtles globally, each of which has a scientific name and a common name. The common name is often a description of some characteristic of the turtle's body. For example, the four most common species in the eastern Caribbean are: The Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata): named because of its narrow head and large beak that resembles the beak of a hawk. The Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): this is the only sea turtle without a bony shell.

Do sea turtles become entranced when nesting?

Euroturtle
No. It is a commonly stated myth. The nesting process is difficult, tiring and time consuming. As sea turtles flippers are well adapted for their marine life, they are not well adapted for use on dry land, making movement clumsy. Although turtles will abandon the nesting process if they are disturbed and feel threatened, due to the effort involved, once egg laying (ovipositing) has begun, they are less likely to abandon their nest.

How many eggs do sea turtles lay?

Euroturtle
Depending on species, they may lay clutches containing on average 50-160+ eggs, and may lay more than one clutch in a season. Flatback turtles (endemic to Australian waters) lay the smallest clutches (approximately 50 eggs per clutch). Hawksbill turtles lay the largest clutches, which may contain over 200 eggs!

What do sea turtles eat and do they have teeth?

Euroturtle
Each species feeds on a diet specific to that species. For example, Loggerheads feed mainly on hard-shelled organisms such as lobsters, crustaceans, and fish, Green turtles prefer sea grasses and Leatherbacks feed exclusively on jellyfish. Plastic bags are often mistaken by turtles for jellyfish and are eaten. Plastic may accumulate inside a turtles gut and make the turtle feel full, when in fact it is hungry, this may result in starvation. Plastic may also lead to suffocation.

How deep can sea turtles dive?

Euroturtle
Leatherbacks can dive to a depth of more than 1000m in search of their prey, jellyfish. The smaller species are unable to dive to such great depths. The Leatherback is adapted to deep dives because of its unique morphology. Unlike other sea turtles, the Leatherback lacks a rigid breastbone/ lower chest, allowing the chest to collapse during deep dives.

How and why are sea turtles identified?

Euroturtle
Both external and internal markers (tags) are used to enable the identification of a specific individual. External tags are made from metal (monel or inconel) or plastic. Internal tags are called “Passive Integrated Transponder tags” or “PIT tags”. These are microchips consisting of metal and glass. Both external and internal tags display a unique series of letters and numbers, a bar code, eg, ZA214.

Do sea turtles court before mating?

Euroturtle
Most sea turtle studies have focused on land when the females nest, for ease of observation. Little research has been conducted in the sea, so there is limited knowledge on their behaviour in the water. It is known that sea turtle “courtship” usually occurs offshore the nesting beach. Males approach any female turtle, and occasionally logs, and scuba divers who resemble the females! Several males compete for the same female.
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