Zlatan Jurinovic Natural Resources AM February 2, 2015 Professor Toscano Endangered Species When people think of extinction, the first thing that comes to mind to majority of peoples mind is dinosaurs. Not many think about the animals in today's world that on the verge or extinction. Just in the recent few decades people like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service help to protect the environment and the species that live within the homes. Some species include fish, insects, reptiles, flowers, grasses, mammals, and trees. One species that in endanger of being whipped out from this planet is the green turtle. The green turtle is a large sea turtle that has a wide smooth carapace or shell. It's also not know for its shell but for the color of its cartilage and fat. In the Eastern Pacific, there is a group of green turtle with a darker shell that the locals around there call them black turtles. The Species is usually found around the shores of Europe and North America. Also the Eastern Pacific green turtle has been known to be found in coastal waters from Alaska to Chile. Just like any other sea turtle, the green turtle migrates long distances between feeding ground to the surface land of which they hatched. Sea turtle have a life span of over 80 years and can grow up to five feet in size which the weight of over 700 pounds. Just like any other sea turtle, green turtle cannot pull its head into its shell. Most adult green turtles are herbivorous and feed off of grasses and algae, while the juvenile turtle ate invertebrates such as crabs, sponges, and jellyfish. So why is it important to help preserve this endangered species? It's important because green turtles feed on sea grasses and algae to maintain the sea grass beds and make them more productive and healthier. After the green turtles digest the sea grass and algae, it becomes recycled nutrients for the other living plants and animals that live in the sea grass ecosystem. The sea grass beds are nurseries for several species of fish such are crabs, sponges, and others. Many that are considered value to commercial fisheries which is important to the human food security. The green turtles are endanger because of fisheries bycatch and habitat loss. all around the world, thousands of turtles are accidently caught in shrimp trawl nets, fishing nets , and on longline hooks. The green turtle need to be able to come up for air and breath. Being stuck in the net prevents the turtle to gasp for air and the turtles drown. Sea turtle are also dependent on beaches as their nesting. Human activities, vehicle traffic, and uncontrolled coastal development have directly destroyed and disturbed the nesting for sea turtle all around the world. The green turtle lay about 100 to 200 eggs in a pit on the beach leaving them for two months before they hatch. This process normally takes around 2 to 4 years before the eggs are laid. The most dangerous part for a green turtle is the journey to the water as they are very defenseless. The decline in green turtles leads to the pollution and sedimentation nearby waters. To help reduce the decline in sea turtles, the WWF (World Wide Fund of Nature) aims to help reduce the number of turtles being caught in nets by working with fisheries to make a turtle friendly fishing hooks and nets. They also started a program called Smart Gear that encourages people to get creative and make gear that is turtle friendly. The WWF works with fisherman to help the extinction of sea turtles. Another way they are helping in the effect of the decline in sea turtle is by satellite tracking. By doing so, they can see what routes the sea turtles take so they can have a safe feeding area, safe place to nest and migrate freely. The tracking devises that are used do not harm the turtles and help figure out where the safe area are for them. Over time, the tracking devise falls off. Slowly but surely, they green sea turtles will be taken off the endangered list with the help of everyone in this world.

Work Cited https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/green-turtle http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-turtle/ http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-endangered-species-act