The Role and Challenges of Sea Turtles in Marine Ecosystem
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Sea turtles, comprising seven species, including the leatherback, green, loggerhead, and hawksbill, play a vital role in maintaining marine ecosystem health. These species contribute to ecological balance through behaviors such as grazing on seagrass and regulating sponge populations in coral reefs. However, sea turtles face significant threats across all life stages due to human activities, including habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and bycatch in fishing gear. Rising global temperatures disrupting nesting patterns and skew sex ratios, while coastal development reduces safe nesting sites. Marine plastics pose further dangers through ingestion and entanglement. Conservation efforts, by global agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regional programs, are essential to protect these species and their habitats. Understanding behavior, and ecological roles of sea turtles is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. Protecting them ensures the support of the resilience of ocean ecosystem.
Author: Rajesh Kumar1*, Karankumar Ramteke1, Bharti Sahu2, Vipul Singh Badguzar1, Anjana A1
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6911973273
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: