Sea Turtles, Monk Seals, and Trophic Structure

Question 1

What are turtles?

Answer 1

Reptiles

Question 2

How are turtles’ blood regulated?

Answer 2

Turtles are cold-blooded aka, they reflect their environment

Question 3

What is the big difference between terrestrial turtles and land turtles?

Answer 3

Sea turtles are lighter and unable to retract their heads

Question 4

How did sea turtles anatomically adapt?

Answer 4

Elongated phalanges and reduced claws

Question 5

How long before females lay their eggs?

Answer 5

20 to 30 years until maturity

Question 6

Where do female turtles go when they reproduce?

Answer 6

The females go to their maternal beach aka the beach they were born.

Question 7

What is the purpose of false nesting?

Answer 7

Checking out the area to be sure its safe

Question 8

What is the average amount of eggs laid in a clutch?

Answer 8

100-150 eggs

Question 9

What is it called when the turtles hatch all at once? Why is this importance?

Answer 9

Mass emergence, some turtles will get picked off and eaten.

Question 10

How long does it take for the nests to hatch?

Answer 10

1/2 to 2 months

Question 11

How do turtles remember where their maternal beach is?

Answer 11

They are imprinting on the beach before the hit the water. They remember the temperature, magnetic area, etc.

Question 12

What are the “lost years?”

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

How many out of 100 hatchlings will survive to sexual maturity?

Answer 13

1 in 100

Question 14

What are Cheloniidae turtles?

Answer 14

Sea Turtles that have scutes

Question 15

What are Dermochelyidae turtles?

Answer 15

Sea turtles that don’t have scutes

Question 16

What is the scientific name of the Green Sea Turtle?

Answer 16

Chelonia mydas

Question 17

What are scutes?

Answer 17

Bony plates

Question 18

What is the current threat to Green Sea Turtles?

Answer 18

Fibropapillomatosis (tumors that cover eyes, nose, and mouth)

Question 19

What turtles are most commonly found along the coasts of Hawaii?

Answer 19

Hawksbill turtles

Question 20

Monk Seals belong to which group and what does it mean?

Answer 20

Pinnipeds, which means “fin footed”

Question 21

What are the three different types of seals?

Answer 21

Otariids “Eared Seals”Phocids “True Seals” or “Earless Seals”Odobenids “Walrus”

Question 22

Eared Seals are known as

Answer 22

Otariids

Question 23

True Seals are known as

Answer 23

Phocids

Question 24

Walrus are known as

Answer 24

Odobenids

Question 25

What are the two subfamilies of Phocid seals?

Answer 25

Monachinae and Phocinae

Question 26

Monachinae include which type of seals?

Answer 26

Monk, elephant, and Antarctic

Question 27

Phocinae include which types of seals?

Answer 27

North Hemisphere Seals

Question 28

What are the three types of seal species?

Answer 28

Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Hawaiian

Question 29

What is the progression of the Monk Seal?

Answer 29

Mediterranean, to North American waters, then to Pacific

Question 30

Why did the Hawaiian Monk Seals move to the NWHI?

Answer 30

The Hawaiian Monk Seals were being harvested and didn't like human interaction

Question 31

Typically how heavy are monk seals?

Answer 31

375-450 lbs

Question 32

Typically how long are monk seals?

Answer 32

7 - 7.5 feet

Question 33

What is the average lifespan of monk seals?

Answer 33

25-30 years

Question 34

What does the typical monk seal diet consist of?

Answer 34

Fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans

Question 35

What do monk seals do during the day?

Answer 35

They are resting on beaches

Question 36

What do monk seals do during the night?

Answer 36

They fish in deep water for precious coral beds and other benthic ecosystems

Question 37

What kind of coral do monk seals like to eat?

Answer 37

Black and gold corals

Question 38

Why do monk seals dive deeper to feed on coral?

Answer 38

Humans harvest coral in shallower depths

Question 39

In what century did the Hawaiian Monk Seal decline and why?

Answer 39

19th Century, they were nearly hunted to extinction by Western explorers

Question 40

When were the Hawaiian Monk Seals put on the Endangered Species Act?

Answer 40

1976

Question 41

What is a common predator of Monk Seals?

Answer 41

Sharks

Question 42

Why is there a lower survival rate for monk seal pups?

Answer 42

Human disturbances and inability to nurse pups

Question 43

What are four modern threats to the Hawaiian Monk Seal?

Answer 43

Ciguatera intoxication Entanglement Genetic Bottlenecking Mobbing behavior

Question 44

What are three course of action toward helping the HMS?

Answer 44

Worming Translocation to MHI Immunizations

Question 45

Endosymbiotic zooxanthellae in corals

Answer 45

Primary producer on the reef

Question 46

Filametous algal scum (turf algae)

Answer 46

Primary producer on the reef

Question 47

Coralline algae (encrusting or branching)

Answer 47

Primary producer on the reef

Question 48

Benthic macroalgae (seaweeds)

Answer 48

Primary producer on the reef

Question 49

Benthic diatoms

Answer 49

Primary producers on the reef

Question 50

Phytoplankton

Answer 50

Primary producers on the reef

Question 51

Most parrotfish

Answer 51

Herbivores

Question 52

Pacific Gregory

Answer 52

Herbivores

Question 53

Some surgeonfish

Answer 53

Herbivores

Question 54

Blennies

Answer 54

Herbivores

Question 55

Gastropods and Sea hares

Answer 55

Herbivores

Question 56

Most sea urchins

Answer 56

Herbivores

Question 57

Crabs

Answer 57

Herbivores

Question 58

Honu

Answer 58

Herbivores

Question 59

Certain butterflyfish

Answer 59

Corallivores

Question 60

Blue-eyed damselfish

Answer 60

Corallivores

Question 61

Filefishes

Answer 61

Corralivores

Question 62

Shortbodied blenny

Answer 62

Corallivores

Question 63

Crown of thorns and Pin cushion sea star

Answer 63

Corallivores

Question 64

Snails, Nudibranchs, and Flatworms

Answer 64

Corallivores

Question 65

Plankton-feeders (damselfishes and some butterfly fishes) Benthic invertebrate feeders (wrasses and triggerfishes) Piscivores (baracuda, morays, groupers, jacks, sharks)

Answer 65

Non-Corallivore Predators

Question 66

Mollusks (some cone shells, triton's trumpet, and octopus/cuttlefish

Answer 66

Non-Corallivore Predators

Question 67

Lobsters and some Crabs

Answer 67

Non-Corallivore Predators

Question 68

Dolphins, seals, and sea birds

Answer 68

Non-Corallivore Predators

Question 69

Father-duster worms

Answer 69

Filter & Suspension Feeders

Question 70

Christmas tree worms

Answer 70

Filter & Suspension Feeders

Question 71

Sponges

Answer 71

Filter & Suspension Feeders

Question 72

Tunicates

Answer 72

Filter & Suspension Feeders

Question 73

Bivalved Mollusks

Answer 73

Filter & Suspension Feeders

Question 74

Sea Cucumbers

Answer 74

Deposit Feeders

Question 75

Spaghetti Worms

Answer 75

Deposit Feeders

Question 76

Brittle Stars

Answer 76

Deposit Feeders

Question 77

What is the order of trophic structure?

Answer 77

Phytoplankton Herbivores 1st Degree Carnivores 2nd Degree Carnivores

Question 78

Phytoplankton are also known as...

Answer 78

Autotrophs or 1st Degree Producers

Question 79

Herbivores are also known as...

Answer 79

1st Degree Heterotrophs

Question 80

1st Degree Carnivores are also known as...

Answer 80

2nd Degree Heterotrophs

Question 81

2nd Degree Carnivores are also known as...

Answer 81

3rd Degree Heterotrophs