Good morning class!Good morning class!

My name is Everton Brown. My name is Everton Brown.

Today I will be talking to you about Today I will be talking to you about

““GREEN SEA TURTLES”GREEN SEA TURTLES”

WHY GREEN SEA TURTLES?WHY GREEN SEA TURTLES?

I chose to talk about the Green Sea TurtlesI chose to talk about the Green Sea Turtles

because:because:Turtles plays a huge part of Cayman’s history. Turtles plays a huge part of Cayman’s history.

When Christopher Columbus discovered Cayman When Christopher Columbus discovered Cayman

in 1503, he gave the name ‘Los Tortugas’ meaning in 1503, he gave the name ‘Los Tortugas’ meaning

the land of many turtles.the land of many turtles.

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

Green Sea Turtles are graceful saltwater Green Sea Turtles are graceful saltwater reptiles with flipper-like limbs. They have the reptiles with flipper-like limbs. They have the largest heart-shaped hard shelled back with a largest heart-shaped hard shelled back with a small head. The top shell of the turtle is called a small head. The top shell of the turtle is called a ‘carapace’.‘carapace’.

The color of their belly is creamy, white or The color of their belly is creamy, white or yellow.yellow.

Their size is about 4 feet and weighs up to 400 Their size is about 4 feet and weighs up to 400 pounds.pounds.

HABITATHABITAT

Their habitat is the ocean floor where there is a Their habitat is the ocean floor where there is a

lot of algae and marine grass.lot of algae and marine grass.

When they are active they must swim to the When they are active they must swim to the

ocean surface to breathe every few minutes.ocean surface to breathe every few minutes.

When they are resting they remain When they are resting they remain

underwater for longer periods of time.underwater for longer periods of time.

REPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTION

Female turtles reproduce between 25 to Female turtles reproduce between 25 to 50 years of age.50 years of age.

Mating begins in March and females nests Mating begins in March and females nests between May to September. between May to September.

Nesting occurs between 2-4 year intervals.Nesting occurs between 2-4 year intervals. Female turtles lays up to 5 clutches during Female turtles lays up to 5 clutches during

nesting season. A ‘clutch’ is the name nesting season. A ‘clutch’ is the name given to a group of turtle eggs.given to a group of turtle eggs.

STAGES OF REPRODUCTIONSTAGES OF REPRODUCTION

1.1. The female turtle works her way ashore The female turtle works her way ashore to lay a clutch of eggs. This happens at to lay a clutch of eggs. This happens at night because it helps to protect against night because it helps to protect against predators and protects mother and eggs predators and protects mother and eggs from the sun. from the sun.

2. The Green Sea Turtle digs a hole to bury 2. The Green Sea Turtle digs a hole to bury their eggs. It can deposit anywhere from their eggs. It can deposit anywhere from 50 to 200 eggs per clutch. 50 to 200 eggs per clutch.

A clutch size = 7 to 200 eggsA clutch size = 7 to 200 eggs

INCUBATION INCUBATION

3. Once eggs are laid the turtle carefully 3. Once eggs are laid the turtle carefully covers the nest and returns to the sea. covers the nest and returns to the sea.

It will take 45 to 70 days for the eggs to It will take 45 to 70 days for the eggs to

incubate and hatch.incubate and hatch.

The temperature of the eggs during incubation The temperature of the eggs during incubation determines the gender of the hatchlings:determines the gender of the hatchlings:

Lower Temperatures = produces male turtlesLower Temperatures = produces male turtlesHigher Temperatures = produces female turtlesHigher Temperatures = produces female turtles

GENDERGENDER

HATCHINGHATCHING

4. When hatched young hatchling weigh 4. When hatched young hatchling weigh about one ounce and have a carapace about one ounce and have a carapace shell length of 2 inches. They goes into shell length of 2 inches. They goes into the water to hunt for food and find their the water to hunt for food and find their species.species.

. .

WHAT DO THEY EAT?WHAT DO THEY EAT?

Green sea turtles are herbivores which Green sea turtles are herbivores which means they eat sea grass. They also eat means they eat sea grass. They also eat the manatee grass, turtle grass and the manatee grass, turtle grass and marine algae. marine algae.

Sea grass.Sea grass. Marine grass.Marine grass. Red marine Red marine algae.algae.

FUN FACTSFUN FACTS

They are They are cold-bloodedcold-blooded, meaning that , meaning that they get their body heat from the they get their body heat from the environment rather than making their own. environment rather than making their own.

They breathe air They breathe air They live as long as 100 yearsThey live as long as 100 years Their scientific name is’ chelonia mydas’ Their scientific name is’ chelonia mydas’

but they got their name because of the but they got their name because of the striking color of their shell.striking color of their shell.

Small turtles have more predators than the Small turtles have more predators than the

adult turtles. Seabirds, crabs and ragoons adult turtles. Seabirds, crabs and ragoons

feeds on baby turtles. Only sharks are large feeds on baby turtles. Only sharks are large

enough to prey adult turtles. Humans are enough to prey adult turtles. Humans are

also predators.also predators.

PREDATORSPREDATORS

ADAPTATIONADAPTATION

Green Sea Turtles adapts to their Green Sea Turtles adapts to their environment:environment:1.1. They are strong swimmers flippers allow them They are strong swimmers flippers allow them

to swim at a cruising speed of 1.5 to 2.3 to swim at a cruising speed of 1.5 to 2.3 kilometers.kilometers.

2.2. They are cold-blooded so they have a slow They are cold-blooded so they have a slow metabolic rate which allows them to stay metabolic rate which allows them to stay underwater for long periods.underwater for long periods.

3.3. They have salt glands to rid their bodies of They have salt glands to rid their bodies of excess salt.excess salt.

MIGRATIONMIGRATION

Green Sea turtles migrate long distances between

feeding grounds and hatching beaches. Migration

habits depends on the sea turtle species.

Migrations can range from a few kilometers to

thousands of kilometers. A tracking device is used

in Cayman to track their travel distances.

THREATSTHREATS

Pollution to the ocean floor eg. garbage, Pollution to the ocean floor eg. garbage,

plastic bags, oil spills).plastic bags, oil spills). Climate ChangesClimate Changes Buildings on the beaches that destroyBuildings on the beaches that destroy

their nesting zones.their nesting zones. Getting caught in fishing netsGetting caught in fishing nets illegal sea turtle tradesillegal sea turtle trades Natural threatsNatural threats

SUMMARYSUMMARY

The green sea turtle existence is threatened!The green sea turtle existence is threatened!

We can do something to help them to:We can do something to help them to: Participate in beach cleanupsParticipate in beach cleanups Adopt a turtleAdopt a turtle Avoid throwing objects into the oceanAvoid throwing objects into the ocean Tell others about the dangers to raise Tell others about the dangers to raise

awareness just like what I am doing NOW!awareness just like what I am doing NOW!

ANY QUESTIONS?

THE ENDTHE END

REFERENCESREFERENCES

Online Sources:Online Sources: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/education/kids_times_turtles.htmlwww.nmfs.noaa.gov/education/kids_times_turtles.html www.world-turtle-trust.org/turtleinfo.htmlwww.world-turtle-trust.org/turtleinfo.html www.seaworld.org/animal-info/seaturtle/reproduction.htmlwww.seaworld.org/animal-info/seaturtle/reproduction.html www.ccturtle.org/sea-turtle-information/threats.htmlwww.ccturtle.org/sea-turtle-information/threats.html www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles.htmlwww.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles.html www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/photos/seaturtles.htmlwww.nationalgeographic.com/animals/photos/seaturtles.html

Time taken to complete assignment:Time taken to complete assignment:

- Written - Written = 3 hours= 3 hours

- Ocean diorama - Ocean diorama = 5 hours= 5 hours

- Practice presentation = 2 hours- Practice presentation = 2 hours