Save Sea Turtles

The Sea Turtle Serves Ecology

August 2017 – Part II

If we manage, in the process, to save sea turtle, we might just be saving ourselves too. Sea Turtles serve our ecology in several ways and here are a couple examples.

1. Sea Turtles are one of the few animals that eat sea grass. Sea Turtles and manatees are grazing animals that help maintain the health of the sea grass beds, Sea grass beds are breeding and developmental grounds for many species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Without the Sea Turtle, a serious decline in sea grass beds will result, which will result in the decline in many species.
2. When Sea Turtles nest and lay eggs on the beaches and lower dunes, many nutrients are added to these barren lands throughout the year. All the unhatched nests, eggs and trapped hatchlings are very vital sources of nutrients for dune vegetation. This results in stronger and a healthier beach/dune ecosystem, providing protection from erosion.