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05-MAR-2006

March 9, 2006

What happens when the sea turtles disappear?

While we had the rental car we visited the Marathon Turtle Hospital.
What an experience.
Sea turtles are a 'keystone species', which means they are vital to the balance of nature on this planet.
Sea turtles' normal diet are jellyfish, sponge, squid and other natural marine organisms.
Unfortunately, turtles can't tell the difference between a wad of monofilament fishing line and a jellyfish,
and they sometimes think man-made plastic objects are sponges or squid.
When a turtle ingests such objects their digestive tracts get impacted and the creature gets sick.
An interesting aspect of nature is that a sick turtle can not dive below the surface.
Sick turtles float until they get well on their own, or die from lack of food, or some other hazard.
While recovering on the surface many turtles are hit by propeller blades from passing ships
or **attacked by sharks** like the little guy in the picture below.

Let's get back to the 'keystone species' issue.
There are seven species of sea turtles on earth.
All are on the ENDANGERED list, except the loggerhead turtle; which is THREATENED.
So what happens when the sea turtles disappear?
**Continued with more pictures here**



If you are ever in the Florida Keys, Jill and I highly recommend a visit to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon.
Meanwhile visit them on the web www.theturtlehospital.org

FujiFilm FinePix F10 Zoom
1/500s f/3.2 at 8.0mm iso400 full exif

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Gary Winters11-Mar-2006 18:21
I hadn't heard of the keystone species idea, but it makes perfect sense. I've always had a love of turtles; your commentary made me feel so sad. The shot is excellent.
Focus10-Mar-2006 22:24
Nice shot and commentary............
Allen Chester10-Mar-2006 21:25
Wow super shot!
Karen Stuebing10-Mar-2006 12:27
I am so glad that there are people who care about things like this. You have to wonder why everyone doesn't but most people are oblivious. Beautiful photo and commentary.
Guest 10-Mar-2006 06:04
Sadly everywhere all sort of species are diminishing. Reef are bleaching due to heat, Orcas are poisoned by chemicals. Almost all my families kids have algeries of one sort or another when the parents did not. The good news is the stock market is up. Perhaps we will learn in time.
Greg Harp10-Mar-2006 04:47
Excellent shot.
Guest 10-Mar-2006 04:27
Great shot!!
Karen Leaf10-Mar-2006 04:16
Like I had a tank on my back, love it.
laine8210-Mar-2006 01:03
Love it, especially with the shadow of humans there too !
royalld09-Mar-2006 17:22
Very good eye, Scott. See this link: http://www.pbase.com/royalld/marathon__turtle_hospital__tarpon
J. Scott Coile09-Mar-2006 16:40
Outstanding! Is that the tail of a Tarpon? Wonderful composition. VOTE.
Guest 09-Mar-2006 16:09
Very well done and most interesting, Thanks
Bryan Murahashi09-Mar-2006 15:50
This is a very nice shot of the turtle rising up. Thanks for the info. Very eye opening on the turtles importance and its difficult life due to mankind everywhere.
Coleen Perilloux Landry09-Mar-2006 14:22
Nice turtle photo. I remember doing a beach sweep and finding a dead Ridley Turtle. It is on the endangered species. The Wildlife authorities questioned me extensively as though I had killed it.