Science On a Sphere
Marine Migration: Loggerhead Sea Turtle (3D)
Details
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- Available for
- Explorer
- Categories
- Water: Life
- Keywords
- Loggerhead Sea Turtle
- Marine Ecosystems
- Migration
- Oceans
- Shark
- Wildlife
Description
Permalink to DescriptionUsing satellite transmitting tags on wildlife allows scientists at NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Animal Telemetry Network to track and monitor the behaviors of the wildlife in their natural habitats. This dataset tracks one loggerhead sea turtle as it migrates between near shore and open ocean off the coast of Georgia.
Loggerhead Sea Turtles were named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. In the southeastern U.S., mating occurs in late March to early June and females lay eggs between late April and early September. Females lay three to five nests, and sometimes more, during a single nesting season. The eggs incubate approximately two months before hatching sometime between late June and mid-November.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle populations face threats on both nesting beaches and in the marine environment. The greatest cause of decline and the continuing primary threat to loggerhead turtle populations worldwide is incidental capture in fishing gear, primarily in longlines and gillnets, but also in trawls, traps and pots, and dredges.
The most recent reviews show that only two loggerhead nesting beaches have greater than 10,000 females nesting per year: South Florida (U.S.) and Masirah Island (Oman). The status of the Oman nesting colony has not been evaluated recently. Total estimated nesting in the U.S. is approximately 68,000 to 90,000 nests per year.
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat. They provide vital services for the nation: productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, the recovery and conservation of protected resources, and healthy ecosystems—all backed by sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to management.
For more information visit: NOAA Fisheries.
Next Generation Science Standards
Permalink to Next Generation Science StandardsCross-cutting Concepts
Permalink to Cross-cutting ConceptsGrades K–2
C1 Patterns. Children recognize that patterns in the natural and human designed world can be observed, used to describe phenomena, and used as evidence
C6 Structures and Functions. Students observe the shape and stability of structures of natural and designed objects are related to their function(s).
Grades 3–5
C1 Patterns. Students identify similarities and differences in order to sort and classify natural objects and designed products. They identify patterns related to time, including simple rates of change and cycles, and to use these patterns to make predictions.
C6 Structures and Functions. Students learn different materials have different substructures, which can sometimes be observed; and substructures have shapes and parts that serve functions.
Grades 6–8
C6 Structures and Functions. Students model complex and microscopic structures and systems and visualize how their function depends on the shapes, composition, and relationships among its parts. They analyze many complex natural and designed structures and systems to determine how they function. They design structures to serve particular functions by taking into account properties of different materials, and how materials can be shaped and used.
Grades 9–12
C6 Structures and Functions. Students investigate systems by examining the properties of different materials, the structures of different components, and their interconnections to reveal the system’s function and/or solve a problem. They infer the functions and properties of natural and designed objects and systems from their overall structure, the way their components are shaped and used, and the molecular substructures of their various materials.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
Permalink to Disciplinary Core IdeasGrades K–2
ESS2.C The Roles of Water in Earth's Processes. Water is found in many types of places and in different forms on Earth
LS1.A Structure and Function. All organisms have external parts that they use to perform daily functions.
LS1.B Growth and Development of Organisms. Parents and offspring often engage in behaviors that help the offspring survive.
Grades 3–5
ESS2.C The Roles of Water in Earth's Processes. Most of Earth’s water is in the ocean and much of the Earth’s fresh water is in glaciers or underground.
LS1.A Structure and Function. Organisms have both internal and external macroscopic structures that allow for growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction.
LS1.B Growth and Development of Organisms. Reproduction is essential to every kind of organism. Organisms have unique and diverse life cycles.
PS4.A Wave Properties. Waves are regular patterns of motion, which can be made in water by disturbing the surface. Waves of the same type can differ in amplitude and wavelength. Waves can make objects move.
Grades 6–8
ESS2.C The Roles of Water in Earth's Processes. Water cycles among land, ocean, and atmosphere, and is propelled by sunlight and gravity. Density variations of sea water drive interconnected ocean currents. Water movement causes weathering and erosion, changing landscape features.
LS1.B Growth and Development of Organisms. Animals engage in behaviors that increase the odds of reproduction. An organism’s growth is affected by both genetic and environmental factors.
LS4.C Adaptation. Species can change over time in response to changes in environmental conditions through adaptation by natural selection acting over generations. Traits that support successful survival and reproduction in the new environment become more common.
PS4.A Wave Properties. A simple wave model has a repeating pattern with a specific wavelength, frequency, and amplitude, and mechanical waves need a medium through which they are transmitted. This model can explain many phenomena including sound and light. Waves can transmit energy
Grades 9–12
ESS2.C The Roles of Water in Earth's Processes. The planet’s dynamics are greatly influenced by water’s unique chemical and physical properties.
LS4.C Adaptation. Evolution results primarily from genetic variation of individuals in a species, competition for resources, and proliferation of organisms better able to survive and reproduce. Adaptation means that the distribution of traits in a population, as well as species expansion, emergence or extinction, can change when conditions change.
PS4.A Wave Properties. The wavelength and frequency of a wave are related to one another by the speed of the wave, which depends on the type of wave and the medium through which it is passing. Waves can be used to transmit information and energy.