Why is the loggerhead sea turtle important?

Why is the loggerhead sea turtle important?

Facts. Loggerhead turtles are named for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles, allowing them to crush hard-shelled prey like clams and sea urchins. They are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems and help maintain the health of coral reefs and sea grass beds.

Why are sea turtles important to the Chesapeake Bay?

Loggerhead turtles are a keystone species; they feed on many invertebrates, affecting their populations and allowing their broken shells to be used as a source of nutrients for other species.

What benefits do sea turtles have?

What we do know is that sea turtles—even at diminished population levels—play an important role in ocean ecosystems by maintaining healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs, providing key habitat for other marine life, helping to balance marine food webs and facilitating nutrient cycling from water to land.

How do leatherback sea turtles help the environment?

Leatherback turtles consume large numbers of jellyfish which helps to keep populations of these marine organisms in check. Marine turtles, including leatherbacks, also provide a vital source of income as a draw for ecotourism in coastal communities, especially in the Coral Triangle.

Why is a loggerhead turtle called Loggerhead?

The loggerhead turtle is named for its large head, which supports powerful jaw muscles that enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. Loggerheads are the most abundant species of sea turtle that nests in the United States.

What would happen if the loggerhead turtle became extinct?

If sea turtles went extinct, dune vegetation would lose a major source of nutrients and would not be as healthy and would not be strong enough to maintain the dunes, resulting in increased erosion.

What is a loggerhead sea turtles habitat?

Where They Live. Loggerhead turtles are found worldwide primarily in subtropical and temperate regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and in the Mediterranean Sea.

What is a loggerhead sea turtles predators?

While fully-grown Loggerheads have few predators (except for sharks and humans), eggs and hatchlings are susceptible to predation from raccoons, hogs, ghost crabs, and fire ants, among others. Once they enter the water, fish and seabirds prey upon hapless newborns.

How do turtles help the economy?

Ecology and economy in sync Dozens of seasonal workers increase the staff count during the turtle nesting and hatching season to monitor nests, host nighttime nesting walks, and support ongoing research activities. The retail store channels sales tax dollars into county and state coffers.

What are 5 interesting facts about sea turtles?

9 Super Cool Facts About Sea Turtles

• They think jellyfish are delicious.
• They’re the oceans’ lawnmowers.
• They cannot retract into their shell like other turtles.
• Temperature dictates the sex of baby turtles.
• They’ve been around for a very, very long time.
• They can hold their breath for five hours underwater.

What would happen if turtles went extinct?

If sea turtles went extinct, dune vegetation would lose a major source of nutrients and would not be as healthy and would not be strong enough to maintain the dunes, resulting in increased erosion. If sea turtles went extinct, both the marine and beach/dune ecosystems would be negatively affected.

Why is loggerhead turtle endangered?

The greatest continuing primary threat to loggerhead turtle populations worldwide is bycatch in fishing gear, primarily in trawls, longlines, gillnets, hook and line, but also in pound nets, pot/traps, and dredge fisheries.