Loggerhead turtles

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Conservation

Why in News?

Recently, Scientists noticed that the loggerheads turtle has been impacted in at least 4 ways by global warming.

Recent Findings - Sea turtles are capital breeders, relying on energy stored from years of ocean foraging to reproduce.
Climate change is making parts of the Atlantic Ocean less productive, reducing their reproductive capacity.
Rising sea levels are eroding and flooding nesting beaches, decreasing suitable nesting sites.
Nest temperature determines hatchling sex; higher temperatures produce more females, disturbing sex ratios.
Female loggerheads now breed less frequently (every four years instead of two), lay fewer eggs, and are becoming smaller in size.
Changes in ocean circulation affect migration routes and hatchling dispersal.
Species are forced to shift habitats, increasing their risk of decline or extinction.

Loggerhead turtles

Nomenclature - Named for their massive heads and powerful jaw muscles, loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are the world's largest hard-shelled turtles.
These ancient mariners are a keystone species, supporting over 100 different types of animals and plants that live directly on their shells.
Nesting Hotspots - Florida (USA) hosts about 90% of U.S. nesting. Other major sites include Oman, Cabo Verde, Greece, and Australia.
Diet- Primarily carnivorous, they use their strong jaws to crush hard-shelled prey like crabs, conchs, and sea urchins.
Lifespan - They are long-lived, often reaching 70–80 years or more in the wild.
Navigation - They possess an extraordinary "internal compass," using the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate thousands of miles across ocean basins.
Reproduction - Females exhibit natal homing, returning to the exact beach where they hatched decades earlier to lay their own eggs.
Conservation status – IUCN - Vulnerable.
Threats – Bycatch - Accidental capture in commercial fishing gear (trawls, longlines, and gillnets) is their primary threat.
Pollution - They frequently mistake plastic debris for jellyfish, leading to fatal internal blockages.
Coastal Development - Artificial lighting on beaches disorients hatchlings, leading them away from the ocean and toward hazards.

Loggerhead turtles

Reference

The Hindu | Loggerhead turtles