According to a study by the University of Western Australia (UWA), female sea turtle size is related to population dynamics and needs to be protected.
Findings published in Global Ecology and Biogeography on April 19 show that larger females have greater fertility and size is a powerful predictor of egg mass and size of freshly hatched turtles at birth. Showed that there is.
“As women get older, they become what you can call a” super mum “and contribute to a larger population by having more eggs and larger sizes. ” Said Dr. Diego Barnesch, Deputy Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Marine Science, University of Western Australia, and Ecological Statistician, Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nicholas Wu, the lead author of the study, said: Said The size and number of freshly hatched pups are important when making an unstable journey from the nest to the sea.
“It’s safe in numbers, and larger freshly hatched turtles have more” execution power “to help them escape predators,” he said.
Barneche study It shows that turtle body size needs to be considered when predicting how human activity affects sea turtle populations.
It also highlights the need to protect large females so that numbers can be quickly replenished as part of conservation efforts.
by Australian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and EnvironmentSurvival of all sea turtle species, primarily due to pollution and significant turtle habitat changes, accidental drowning of fishing gear, over-harvesting of turtles and eggs, predation of eggs and hatching by foxes, wild pigs and dogs. I’m threatened. And lizards.
Australia has some of the largest nesting sites for sea turtles in the Indo-Pacific, with only one flatback turtle nesting.
Under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999, all six species of sea turtles found in Australian waters are protected.
To estimate how female sea turtle size contributes to fertility, researchers have combined the results of multiple scientific studies into a global meta-analysis, a large data set of green turtle nesting studies. Compared with the results obtained from. Sea turtle research unit in the Chagarhatan Turtle Sanctuary, Malaysia.
“The contribution of female size to the reproductive output we saw is similar between datasets, and in the absence of local studies, our global meta-analysis estimates show the potential contribution of larger females. I am confident that it will serve as a good first approximation for prediction. Population replenishment. “
“All evidence shows that we need to protect these supermum. They are hopes for the future and protecting them is the future of these iconic species. It can have a lasting impact on diversity and resilience. “
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Steve is a Sydney-based Australian reporter with sports, arts and politics. He is an experienced English teacher, a qualified nutritionist, a sports enthusiast, and an amateur musician. Contact him at [email protected]