Sea Turtles, Monk Seals, and Trophic Structure Flashcards
What are turtles?
Reptiles
How are turtles’ blood regulated?
Turtles are cold-blooded aka, they reflect their environment
What is the big difference between terrestrial turtles and land turtles?
Sea turtles are lighter and unable to retract their heads
How did sea turtles anatomically adapt?
Elongated phalanges and reduced claws
How long before females lay their eggs?
20 to 30 years until maturity
Where do female turtles go when they reproduce?
The females go to their maternal beach aka the beach they were born.
What is the purpose of false nesting?
Checking out the area to be sure its safe
What is the average amount of eggs laid in a clutch?
100-150 eggs
What is it called when the turtles hatch all at once? Why is this importance?
Mass emergence, some turtles will get picked off and eaten.
How long does it take for the nests to hatch?
1/2 to 2 months
How do turtles remember where their maternal beach is?
They are imprinting on the beach before the hit the water. They remember the temperature, magnetic area, etc.
What are the “lost years?”
When turtles get caught in the big currents and are swept around in the planktonic layer. They stay there until they are big enough to swim out.
How many out of 100 hatchlings will survive to sexual maturity?
1 in 100
What are Cheloniidae turtles?
Sea Turtles that have scutes
What are Dermochelyidae turtles?
Sea turtles that don’t have scutes
What is the scientific name of the Green Sea Turtle?
Chelonia mydas
What are scutes?
Bony plates
What is the current threat to Green Sea Turtles?
Fibropapillomatosis (tumors that cover eyes, nose, and mouth)
What turtles are most commonly found along the coasts of Hawaii?
Hawksbill turtles
Monk Seals belong to which group and what does it mean?
Pinnipeds, which means “fin footed”
What are the three different types of seals?
Otariids “Eared Seals”Phocids “True Seals” or “Earless Seals”Odobenids “Walrus”
Eared Seals are known as
Otariids
True Seals are known as
Phocids
Walrus are known as
Odobenids
What are the two subfamilies of Phocid seals?
Monachinae and Phocinae
Monachinae include which type of seals?
Monk, elephant, and Antarctic
Phocinae include which types of seals?
North Hemisphere Seals
What are the three types of seal species?
Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Hawaiian
What is the progression of the Monk Seal?
Mediterranean, to North American waters, then to Pacific
Why did the Hawaiian Monk Seals move to the NWHI?
The Hawaiian Monk Seals were being harvested and didn’t like human interaction
Typically how heavy are monk seals?
375-450 lbs
Typically how long are monk seals?
7 - 7.5 feet
What is the average lifespan of monk seals?
25-30 years
What does the typical monk seal diet consist of?
Fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans
What do monk seals do during the day?
They are resting on beaches
What do monk seals do during the night?
They fish in deep water for precious coral beds and other benthic ecosystems
What kind of coral do monk seals like to eat?
Black and gold corals
Why do monk seals dive deeper to feed on coral?
Humans harvest coral in shallower depths
In what century did the Hawaiian Monk Seal decline and why?
19th Century, they were nearly hunted to extinction by Western explorers
When were the Hawaiian Monk Seals put on the Endangered Species Act?
1976
What is a common predator of Monk Seals?
Sharks
Why is there a lower survival rate for monk seal pups?
Human disturbances and inability to nurse pups
What are four modern threats to the Hawaiian Monk Seal?
Ciguatera intoxication
Entanglement
Genetic Bottlenecking
Mobbing behavior
What are three course of action toward helping the HMS?
Worming
Translocation to MHI
Immunizations
Endosymbiotic zooxanthellae in corals
Primary producer on the reef
Filametous algal scum (turf algae)
Primary producer on the reef
Coralline algae (encrusting or branching)
Primary producer on the reef
Benthic macroalgae (seaweeds)
Primary producer on the reef
Benthic diatoms
Primary producers on the reef
Phytoplankton
Primary producers on the reef
Most parrotfish
Herbivores
Pacific Gregory
Herbivores
Some surgeonfish
Herbivores
Blennies
Herbivores
Gastropods and Sea hares
Herbivores
Most sea urchins
Herbivores
Crabs
Herbivores
Honu
Herbivores
Certain butterflyfish
Corallivores
Blue-eyed damselfish
Corallivores
Filefishes
Corralivores
Shortbodied blenny
Corallivores
Crown of thorns and Pin cushion sea star
Corallivores
Snails, Nudibranchs, and Flatworms
Corallivores
Plankton-feeders (damselfishes and some butterfly fishes)
Benthic invertebrate feeders (wrasses and triggerfishes)
Piscivores (baracuda, morays, groupers, jacks, sharks)
Non-Corallivore Predators
Mollusks (some cone shells, triton’s trumpet, and octopus/cuttlefish
Non-Corallivore Predators
Lobsters and some Crabs
Non-Corallivore Predators
Dolphins, seals, and sea birds
Non-Corallivore Predators
Father-duster worms
Filter & Suspension Feeders
Christmas tree worms
Filter & Suspension Feeders
Sponges
Filter & Suspension Feeders
Tunicates
Filter & Suspension Feeders
Bivalved Mollusks
Filter & Suspension Feeders
Sea Cucumbers
Deposit Feeders
Spaghetti Worms
Deposit Feeders
Brittle Stars
Deposit Feeders
What is the order of trophic structure?
Phytoplankton
Herbivores
1st Degree Carnivores
2nd Degree Carnivores
Phytoplankton are also known as…
Autotrophs or 1st Degree Producers
Herbivores are also known as…
1st Degree Heterotrophs
1st Degree Carnivores are also known as…
2nd Degree Heterotrophs
2nd Degree Carnivores are also known as…
3rd Degree Heterotrophs
