Unexplained Sea Turtle Fatalities in Australia
Sea Turtles have been successfully nesting on Raine Island near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef for years; however, this is no longer the case. Recently the hatch rate of these turtles has dropped to below 30%, a shocking contrast to the island’s previous success. Researchers are searching to determine an answer to this mysterious issue. Initially, floodwaters were thought to be the culprit, but after sand was added to the beaches, the problem still persisted. David Booth of the University of Queensland recently put forth the idea of over-nesting. He thinks that the high level of nesting density causes bacteria to spread and depletes oxygen and nutrient levels. Booth is planning on attempting to pump oxygen into the nests to see if this will raise hatching rates. He presented a thesis yesterday at the annual meeting for the Society for Experimental Biology, and it will likely be published in a scientific journal.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Successful release of three turtles from Sea World
Nesting season a surprising success this year
Volunteers watch out for sea turtle nests
Ecology
Beach-cleaning crew leave no trash behind
Education
Students educate the public about turtles
Learn about a zoo’s sea turtle exhibit
Health & Medical
Diagnostics to be performed on Desert Tortoises
Miscellany
86 tortoise shells found buried in a grave-site
From the Library…
Care & Rehabilitation of Turtles and Tortoises
One of the book picks in the Pondcast episode 23 https://theturtleroom.org/blog/2016/03/07/pondcast-episode-23/
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Photo from livedineunwind.
