ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Real Science Why Evolution Has Screwed Sea Turtles (And So Have We)
This article is inspired by a global effort on YouTube, where creators are coming together to support the Team Seas campaign. The mission is to raise $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of trash from our oceans. Curiosity Stream has generously donated their sponsor time to help spread this important message.
Sea turtles have been around for an incredibly long time. About 210 million years ago, during the Triassic period, the first turtles appeared. These early turtles had shells and beaks, much like the turtles we see today. They lived alongside the first dinosaurs and were part of a time when many new species were emerging on Earth.
However, around 200 million years ago, massive volcanic eruptions changed the Earth’s climate, leading to a mass extinction event that wiped out many species. Despite this, turtles survived. Fast forward 80 million years to the Cretaceous period, and we see the first turtles adapting to life in the ocean. Among them was the giant Archelon, the largest sea turtle ever, which was about three meters long and weighed nearly 2,000 kilograms.
Unfortunately, 66 million years ago, an asteroid hit Earth, causing another mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs and two families of sea turtles. Today, only two families of sea turtles remain, including the leatherback sea turtle, the last of the soft-shell family, and six species of the hard-shelled family.
Today, sea turtles face new challenges. Many scientists believe we are on the brink of a new mass extinction, driven mainly by human activities. This event, known as the Holocene extinction, began around 10,000 years ago and has accelerated in recent years.
Human activities like deforestation, overfishing, ocean acidification, habitat loss, and pollution are threatening biodiversity. Sea turtles, with their unique adaptations, are particularly vulnerable to these changes. The traits that helped them survive for millions of years are now putting them at risk.
Unlike natural disasters, this extinction event is something we can address. Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean but come ashore to lay eggs. They return to the same beach where they hatched, laying around a hundred eggs. The temperature of the sand determines the gender of the hatchlings, with warmer temperatures producing females and cooler temperatures producing males.
Once the hatchlings emerge, they face many dangers, including predators and environmental challenges. Evolution has given them survival strategies, like waiting until nightfall to head to the ocean. However, artificial lights can confuse them, leading them away from the sea.
Communities can help by reducing artificial light visible from nesting beaches. Using special light fixtures or red light bulbs can significantly improve hatchling survival rates. Some places have rules to turn off beachfront lights during nesting season, but these are not always enforced. Even partial compliance could save thousands of baby sea turtles each year.
In 2014, the Sea Turtle Conservancy received a grant to improve lighting in Florida, showing that with funding and cooperation, we can help sea turtles. But not all challenges are local. Global issues like warming seas, pollution, and ocean plastic require collective action.
Leatherback turtles, which evolved around 100 million years ago, mainly eat jellyfish. Unfortunately, they often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, leading to severe health problems. Ocean plastic affects many marine animals, and turtles are particularly at risk. Ingested plastic can cause health issues, and entanglement in fishing gear can be deadly.
Organizations are working to rescue and rehabilitate turtles, but we need to address the root causes of ocean pollution. The amount of trash entering the ocean could triple by 2040 unless we act. Key steps include reducing plastic production, designing recyclable packaging, and improving waste collection, especially in low-income countries.
The Ocean Cleanup project is working to intercept trash from rivers before it reaches the ocean. Their solar-powered trash interceptors guide debris to a conveyor belt for collection. Currently, there are three interceptors, but expanding this project requires government support and funding.
Team Seas is a global campaign aiming to raise $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of trash from our oceans, rivers, and beaches. Donations will support both the Ocean Cleanup project and the Ocean Conservancy. Our team at Real Science and Real Engineering has contributed $5,000 to this cause, and we encourage others to donate as well.
There is hope for sea turtles. In the 1940s, about 40,000 Kemp’s ridley turtles were nesting in one area. By 1985, their numbers had dropped to just 700 nests due to human impact. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population has rebounded to over 22,000 individuals today. With continued dedication, we can ensure the survival of these remarkable creatures.
Together, we can make a difference for sea turtles and our oceans.
Research the history of sea turtles from the Triassic period to the present day. Create a timeline that highlights key events in their evolution and survival. Include illustrations or images to make your timeline visually appealing. This activity will help you understand the resilience and adaptability of sea turtles over millions of years.
Design a poster that raises awareness about the threats sea turtles face today and how people can help. Use facts from the article and your own research to create a compelling message. Display your poster in your school or community to educate others about the importance of protecting sea turtles.
Organize a simulated beach cleanup in your classroom or schoolyard. Use recyclable materials to represent ocean trash and work in teams to “clean up” the area. Discuss the impact of pollution on sea turtles and brainstorm ways to reduce waste in your daily life.
Conduct an experiment to understand how artificial lights affect sea turtle hatchlings. Use small flashlights to simulate beach lights and guide toy turtles to the “ocean” (a designated area in your classroom). Discuss how light pollution can be reduced to help sea turtles find their way to the sea safely.
Write a letter to a local government official or community leader explaining the importance of the Team Seas campaign. Use information from the article to support your argument and encourage them to support ocean cleanup efforts. This activity will help you practice persuasive writing and civic engagement.
This video is part of a significant collaboration on YouTube, where creators from around the world are making videos about our planet’s oceans to support the Team Seas campaign. The goal is to raise $30 million to clean 30 million pounds of trash from the ocean. Curiosity Stream has generously donated their sponsor time to share this important message.
Let’s discuss why this initiative is crucial. Turtles have been on Earth and in the seas for an astonishingly long time. Around 210 million years ago, the first primitive turtle with a shell emerged during the Triassic period. This turtle was primarily terrestrial and had a beak and armored shell similar to modern turtles. This era coincided with the rise of the first dinosaurs and a significant explosion of diversity on the planet. However, this era did not last indefinitely.
200 million years ago, massive volcanic activity altered the Earth’s climate, leading to the end-Triassic mass extinction event, which wiped out 76% of all marine and terrestrial species. Despite this, the lineage of turtles survived. 80 million years later, during the Cretaceous period, the first turtles adapted to a marine environment. Eventually, four families of sea turtles emerged, including the giant Archelon, the largest sea turtle ever, measuring three meters long and weighing nearly 2,000 kilograms. Unfortunately, 66 million years ago, an asteroid event that eradicated the dinosaurs also led to the extinction of two of the four sea turtle families, with 75% of all species on Earth going extinct during that time.
Today, only two families of sea turtles remain, with the leatherback sea turtle being the sole survivor of the soft-shell family. The other six species belong to the hard-shelled family. Today’s turtles symbolize the resilience of their lineage and their adaptability in the face of catastrophic extinction events. However, their resilience is not limitless, and they are currently facing unprecedented challenges.
Numerous experts believe we are on the brink of a new mass extinction event, the sixth in Earth’s history, primarily driven by human activity. This extinction event, known as the Holocene extinction event, began around 10,000 years ago with the end of the last ice age and the expansion of human populations. Since then, the number of species on our planet has steadily declined, with recent years witnessing a dramatic increase in extinction rates.
Factors such as deforestation, overfishing, ocean acidification, habitat loss, and pollution from increased human consumption are all contributing to this crisis, posing a significant threat to biodiversity. Sea turtles, with their unique physiology, are particularly vulnerable to these environmental changes. The adaptations that allowed them to survive for millions of years are now putting them at risk.
Unlike natural disasters, this is an extinction event we can address. While humans are responsible for the damage, we also have the power to implement solutions. Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the open ocean, but they do come ashore to lay eggs after long migrations. They return to the same beach where they hatched, digging an egg chamber to lay around a hundred eggs. The temperature during the development of these eggs determines the gender of the hatchlings, with warmer temperatures producing females and cooler temperatures producing males.
Once the hatchlings emerge, they face numerous dangers on their journey to the ocean, including predators and harsh environmental conditions. Evolution has equipped them with survival mechanisms, such as waiting until nightfall to minimize risks. However, artificial light sources can confuse hatchlings, leading them away from the ocean and into danger.
To mitigate this issue, communities can reduce artificial light visible from nesting beaches. Simple measures, such as using special fixtures to direct light away from the beach or implementing red light bulbs, can significantly improve hatchling survival rates. While some coastal communities have ordinances to turn off beachfront lights during nesting season, enforcement is often lacking. Even partial compliance could save thousands of baby sea turtles each year.
In 2014, the Sea Turtle Conservancy received a grant to expand lighting retrofit work in Florida, demonstrating that with more funding and public cooperation, we can help sea turtles withstand the threats they face. However, not all challenges come from local environments. Warming seas, pollution, and ocean plastic are global issues that require collective action.
Leatherback turtles, which evolved around 100 million years ago, have a specialized diet primarily consisting of jellyfish. Unfortunately, this preference can lead to trouble when they mistake plastic bags for their favorite food. The ocean plastic problem affects many marine animals, and turtles are particularly susceptible to its dangers. Ingested plastic can cause severe health issues, and entanglement in fishing gear can lead to injury or death.
Organizations are working to rescue and rehabilitate turtles in distress, but to truly help them, we must address the root causes of ocean pollution. The amount of trash entering the ocean is expected to triple by 2040 unless we take action. Key steps include reducing plastic production, designing recyclable packaging, and improving waste collection infrastructure, especially in low-income countries.
The Ocean Cleanup project is actively working to intercept trash flowing from rivers before it reaches the ocean. Their solar-powered trash interceptors guide debris to a conveyor belt for collection. Currently, there are three interceptors deployed, but scaling up this project requires government cooperation and funding.
Team Seas is a global campaign aiming to raise $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of trash from our oceans, rivers, and beaches. Donations will support both the Ocean Cleanup project and the Ocean Conservancy. Our team at Real Science and Real Engineering has contributed $5,000 to this cause, and we encourage others to donate as well.
Hope for sea turtles exists. In the 1940s, around 40,000 Kemp’s ridley turtles were documented nesting in one area. However, by 1985, their numbers had plummeted to just 700 nests due to human impact. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population has rebounded to over 22,000 individuals today. With continued dedication, we can ensure the survival of these remarkable creatures.
Together, we can make a difference for sea turtles and our oceans.
Evolution – The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth. – Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution explains how species adapt over time to their environments.
Turtles – Reptiles with a hard shell that protects them from predators, known for their slow movement and long lifespan. – Sea turtles are often affected by plastic pollution in the ocean.
Extinction – The state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or becoming extinct. – The extinction of the dodo bird is a classic example of how human activity can impact species survival.
Biodiversity – The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or in the world as a whole. – The Amazon rainforest is known for its incredible biodiversity, hosting millions of different species.
Pollution – The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. – Air pollution from factories can lead to health problems for people and animals alike.
Habitat – The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism. – Deforestation is a major threat to the habitat of many species, including orangutans.
Conservation – The action of conserving something, in particular, the preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment and wildlife. – Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting endangered species from extinction.
Plastic – A synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers that can be molded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. – Reducing the use of plastic can help decrease pollution in our oceans.
Ocean – A vast body of salt water that covers almost three-quarters of the earth’s surface. – The ocean plays a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate and weather patterns.
Climate – The weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period. – Scientists study climate change to understand how global temperatures are rising and affecting ecosystems.
