Do you know there might be on average 500,000 green sea turtles existing worldwide? Emm, such a huge amount of sea creatures living where?
Well, they live in subtropical and temperate regions starting from the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans, and Mediterranean Sea. You can find them inshore and nearshore water areas of Texas to Maine, U.S Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters, etc.
Starting from choosing their habitat to their ability to adapt to those places, you’ll get all the inside information in this article. Let’s have a glance at the details of the green sea turtle habitat.
In The Wild, Where Is the Habitat of The Green Sea Turtle?
From the introduction, you already know that they live in subtropical and temperate regions. And in those areas of oceans, they mostly choose seagrass meadows or coral reefs.
Seagrass is the main food source for green sea turtles, so this is a great place for them to live. They like to live in bays, marshes, and shoals, which all have thick beds of seagrass.
Other than seagrass, they occasionally visit coral reefs for food or shelter too.
Where Do Green Sea Turtles Choose to Build Their Nests? (Reference)
Now that we know where green sea turtles live, it’s time to tell you about their nesting habitat. Well, their most nesting activity is seen in the months from June to September.
But what sand characteristics do green sea turtles look for while building their nests? They keep multiple factors in consideration which are –
- Composition of sand – green sea turtles look for soft, fine-grained sand. This is because it gives them the chance to easily dig out and retain moisture which aids their egg development.
- Having slope – Gentle slopes are best because they make it easy for hatchlings to get to the water after they come out.
- Raised ground – They look for an appropriate range. Between being too high to prevent flooding from storm surges or high tides and too low to allow hatchlings access to the water.
- Darkness – In order to avoid disturbing their hatchlings, these green sea turtles construct their nests at night in areas that have low levels of artificial light.
Other than the sand features, they look for beaches that have few environmental factors in consideration. Such as –
- Predators: To avoid predators like foxes, raccoons, and wild dogs, they lay their eggs and young in areas where there aren’t many animals.
- Humans: Because human activity can disrupt their nesting behaviors, these green sea turtles avoid areas with high human activity.
What is the Difference Between Nesting and Feeding Grounds? (Reference)
I will talk about the two grounds where they live. But in a shorter paragraph, I will discuss the differences so that you can properly have an idea –
In nesting ground
The females return to the same beach to deposit eggs every 2–5 years. These beaches are commonly found in tropical regions, such as Australia, the Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean.
In feeding ground
After hatching and reaching a length of 8 to 10 inches, green turtles spend most of their time in the shallow coastal waters close to shorelines and islands.
It is well-known that green turtles travel great distances, often thousands of miles, between their nesting grounds and feeding grounds. Some even cross entire oceans!
However, the water temperature must be between 7 and 10 degrees Celsius, as this is what they prefer.
Curious about Green Sea Turtle? Check out this article to learn more.
How Does a Green Sea Turtle Adapt to Its Environment?
Many remarkable adaptations have developed in green sea turtles over the years. Allowing them to thrive in their many marine habitats, whether it’s foraging or nesting. Let’s have a look:
Physical capability
Beginning with their physical capability. Since they feed mostly on seagrass, they navigate through their flattened shells and flippers that resemble paddles.
Thus, their strong jaws and durable beaks are powerful, and that allows them to effortlessly rip and crack even the hardest seagrass blades.
They even have a specialized gut. For which the complex carbohydrates they consume are broken down by the cellulolytic microbes in their digestive tract.
Now let’s talk about the salt glands they have. Due to having salt glands they can regulate the salt balance of the body. By excreting excess salt from the seawater that they drink.
Most importantly, efficient lungs make them able to dive to great depths in search of food. Because their powerful lungs allow them to hold their breath for extended periods of time.
Do you know they have a streamlined shell? Their sleek, water-moving shell reduces drag when swimming. It allows them to conserve energy for lengthy travels too.
Other than that, they have a slow metabolism. Their ability to conserve energy allows them to remain submerged for an extended period of time. On top of that, they have sharp senses. They detect even minute changes in water temperature and currents with remarkable precision.
Nesting beaches
The fun part is that, depending on the incubation temperature, they can tell what the sex of the hatchlings will be. Through this, they maintain a constant population structure.
So, for nesting, they are nocturnal nesters. In order to avoid being eaten by creatures that are active during the day, they come ashore at night to lay their eggs.
Also, they have camouflage coloration. Hatchlings’ dark coloring aids with camouflage. It allows them to blend in with the sand and ward off predators.
Migration
Do you know they rely on magnetic sensing to navigate the oceans? Well, yes. Plus, by using it, they return to their annual feeding and nesting grounds.
Even their powerful flippers allow them to swim steadily even for thousands of miles very comfortably. And just like other animals, they rely on fat stores to power their extended journeys and weather periods of food scarcity.
Moreover, it can be an early indicator that certain groups are trying to find a new home because some of them nest at random locations outside of their typical range. However, long-term success and fitness are necessary for creating a new breeding colony.
How Do Green Sea Turtles Decide Where to Live? (Reference)
Several factors influence green sea turtles’ decisions at various points in their lives, and this makes the process of settling down a challenging one. For example,
For hatchlings
In the case of hatchlings, it depends on their instinct and signals of light. When the hatchlings have strong instincts, they swim towards open water to live. They choose land away from predators.
Juveniles
They solely depend on the currents in the ocean. Yes, they drift aimlessly through the open sea, feeding on algae and plankton. Thus, for appropriate habitat when they mature, they seek out areas rich in food, such as seagrass fields close to the shore.
Most importantly, they avoid colder regions and prefer water that is 7–10 degrees Celsius warmer.
Adults
In the case of females, the nesting instincts work mostly while determining where to live. Mostly, the females return to the beach where they hatched every two to five years. They can manage it due to their powerful homing instinct.
And for that, they are also experts at locating the beach where they were born. It helps them to determine easily through magnetic cues.
Overall, because of the importance of seagrass to their plant-based diet, these animals seek out feeding places that have an abundance of these fields.
What Challenges and Threats Do Green Sea Turtles Face?
Green sea turtles face numerous challenges that endanger their existence and the expansion of their population. Among the most significant issues are these:
Degradation and loss of natural habitats
Beginning with establishing buildings directly on the shore, enforcing beach protection measures, and making use of artificial lighting all disrupt nesting sites and inhibit hatchlings.
And then comes the common aspect, which is pollution. Chemicals, plastic, and debris in the water all pose threats to turtles, either directly or by disrupting their food web.
As a result of climate change, beaches that green sea turtles use to nest are in danger of flooding. And higher water temperatures can alter the ratio of male to female hatchlings and make food more difficult to come by.
Dangers posed by the exterior
Mostly, bycatching is a huge threat to these sea creatures by the exterior. It refers to harm or killing that is unintentionally caught in commercial or recreational fishing gear.
Can you imagine that even though turtles and their eggs are protected by law illegal trade and hunting are seen? They are nonetheless illegally hunted and traded for various items, including meat and shells.
However, near populated areas like ports and trade lanes, collisions between ships and boats can have devastating and even deadly consequences as well.
Other issues
The fact that we cannot ignore them is that a number of diseases can weaken turtles. And make them more susceptible to harm; fibropapillomatosis is one such condition.
Other than that, turtles and other species struggle for food supplies when supplies are reduced due to factors such as overfishing and ecosystem destruction. That’s when they face a competition.
Eventually, because of shifting ocean currents and storm patterns, turtles will have a more difficult time reaching beaches to deposit their eggs. This is one consequence of climate change.
What Are A Few Conservation Efforts to Address These Issues?
The good news is that these issues are already being addressed by numerous conservation efforts. For example, the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for the purpose of habitat protection and the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). It helps reduce the number of turtles trapped by fishing lines.
There are other efforts that have been observed and could be introduced such as nesting and restoration. It involves planting trees and plants, adding sand, and cutting down on pollution.
Also, eradicate the quantity of artificial light near beaches, and use circle hooks. Because circle hooks are safer for turtles than J-hooks since they do not capture them as easily. Temporary closure of fishing sites during the turtle breeding and passage seasons should be regulated.
How Can We Help Green Sea Turtles to Protect Their Habitat?
Well, our little green sea turtle needs a little bit of awareness from us. The first one comes from us by keeping beaches and oceans free of wastage.
Moreover, to aid in the cleanup of our beaches and oceans, bring reusable water bottles and shopping bags.
Plus, keep your fingers off the balloon in the ocean areas. Sea turtles could confuse them for jellyfish or entangle themselves in the strings if they float away.
Likewise, try not to drive on sea turtle nesting beaches as it can deter females from nesting. Moreover, the light and sound will damage the incubating nests. That’s why we should try to avoid them.
Frequently Asked Questions
In short, let’s have a glance at a few important questions that are asked by readers like you.
Is the Red Sea home to any green sea turtles?
Yes. There are seven species of turtles that are known to be living today: green, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley, and leatherback. The Red Sea is home to five of them.
Do green sea turtles reuse their habitat nests?
Yes, green sea turtles are extremely devoted to the beaches upon which they deposit their eggs. Frequently returning to the same sites for subsequent clutches proves that.
What is the clutch size of a green sea turtle?
The average clutch size for a green sea turtle is 110–115 eggs. However, this can vary according to the female’s size, health, and other characteristics.
The typical dimensions of a nest hole are 40–50 cm (15–20 in.) deep and 50–60 cm (20–24 in.) wide. Because of this, the eggs have adequate space to develop, and the sand remains moist.
Conclusion
Sea creatures that live in the ocean are so diverse and have so many unique features that will blow your mind away. I have talked about the green sea turtle habitat in this article for a clear vision of where they stay.
Green sea turtles live in shallow water where the temperature of water is 7-10 degrees Celsius. Moreover, due to having strong jaws, and gut specialized they are able to survive in the saltwater so effortlessly.