Choose one species of sea turtle.

Describe its biology, ecology, and global

Over the route of extra than 100 million years, sea turtles have traveled
splendid distances all through the oceans of the world, gambling an important
function in keeping the concord of marine habitats. Seven precise species of these
aquatic reptiles graze in lots of habitats, such as the Indian Ocean's shallow
seagrass meadows, the Coral Triangle's dense coral reefs, or even the Eastern
Pacific's sandy shorelines.
Among the seven kinds of sea turtles that live in the water, the
hawksbill sea turtle is unquestionably one. They cross under the scientific name
Eretmochelys imbricata and belong to the Cheloniidae family's circle of cousins.
The term "Hawksbill" derives from the shape of the ocean turtles' beaks. They also
have a carapace with scale patterns that overlap and document a jagged edge next
to the shell. Those shells are highly appreciated and commonly labeled as
"tortoiseshell" in markets due to their colourful and distinctive patterns.
The majority of the tropical coral reefs in the globe are found in the
Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, where hawksbill turtles can be found. For
mating and sponge-eating opportunities, they prefer coastal areas with nearby
sandy seashores and generally avoid deep seas, according to National
Geographic. Marine turtles mostly eat sponges, which they remove from coral
crevices with the help of the resource in their tiny, pointed beaks. Sea turtles also
eat sea anemones and jellyfish Since hawksbills are omnivorous, they will also
consume fish, jellyfish, crustaceans, sea urchins, mollusks, and marine vegetation.
Even though their strong shells shield them from many predators, they are
nonetheless preyed upon by huge fish, sharks, crocodiles, octopuses, and humans.
The only surviving members of a group of reptiles that have been sailing our
oceans for more than 100 million years are sea turtles. They are a crucial
component of marine ecosystems and guarantee the continuation of seagrass beds
and coral reefs.
Hawksbill sea turtles migrate incomparably, much like other sea turtles
do, to go from feeding grounds to breeding grounds, which are typically on tropical
beaches. Female hawksbills return to their birth beaches every two to five years to
lay their eggs, which are often laid in shallow seas along the shore. The process of
nesting starts when the turtles leave the ocean to find a place to lay their eggs. 130
to 160 eggs are placed in a pit they had dug in the sand, which they subsequently
cover. At this point, the turtles depart for the ocean, leaving the eggs behind. The
eggs will hatch in roughly 60 days. When hatchlings travel from their eggs to the
sea, it is when they are most in danger. During this quick scamper, crabs and gull
flocks devour the baby turtles.
Each year sea turtles, such as the Hawksbill Sea Turtles, get closer and
closer to extinction because of the risks they encounter every day. They perish as
a result of oil spills, marine debris, and fishing nets. If we continue to pose the
dangerous risks we are, Hawksbill sea turtles will go extinct. First, oil spills are a
major cause of sea turtle deaths in our area. According to the Sea Turtles
Conservancy, 1994 research on newborn sea turtles revealed that 63% of them all
had tar inside of them. This occurs because the tar in the eggs is caused by the oil
that washes up the shore and into the sand where the eggs are when they are still
eggs. That only applies to how oil can kill babies; it does not apply to adults.
Despite the fact that oil does not adhere to them as strongly as it does to other
species, sea turtles still consume objects that have tar on them. The Sea Turtle
Conservancy claims that eating oil damages their health, making them weaker and
more vulnerable to harm.
Besides that, according to the IUCN Red-List, Hawksbills are Critically
Endangered, similar to many other sea turtles, primarily owing to human activity.
Since ancient Egypt, people have valued tortoise shells, and hawksbills are no
exception with their magnificent shells. According to the International Union for
Conservation of Nature, millions of hawksbills have been killed in the previous
century for the tortoiseshell trade. Even though international trade in hawksbill
shells was legalized and ended in 1993, commerce still occurs. The main threat to
hawksbills is the overuse of their shell, sometimes known as "tortoiseshell," which
is used mostly by European and Asian nations to produce jewelry, hair
accessories, and other ornaments. The degradation of nesting areas along the
coast leads to hatchlings mistaking the direction of the sea for the attraction of the
bright lights. A direct result of the global degradation of coral reefs is habitat loss.
Hawksbill sea turtle deaths attributed to humans include those brought on by
marine debris and pollution, collisions with vessels, and take from industrial fishing
operations.
The lack of habitat is the third factor contributing to the declining
Hawksbill population. This species and all ocean species are affected by
degradation, such as pollution introduced to the oceans, which includes untreated
sewage, exhaust, trash, chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, industrial and
powerplant emissions, and oil spills. These pollutants break down and destroy the
ecosystem that they depend on to survive. The human practice of filling up
wetlands and rivers to construct homes and businesses poses a threat to the
habitat, which in turn threatens the chances of this species' survival. This species'
and all sea turtle species’ nesting sites are being destroyed by development for
tourism.
International treaties like the Convention on Migratory Species and the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) protect hawksbill turtles. Given the large geographic range of hawksbills,
this level of international collaboration is crucial for their protection. While
researchers like Photo Ark EDGE Fellow Daniel Arauz collect data on hawksbill
populations to aid in raising awareness among local communities and improving
conservation strategies, advocates are also working to protect the hawksbill turtle's
habitats by designating them marine sanctuaries or aquatic preserves.
 Due to this, effective measures must be taken to ensure the Hawksbill
can live for the long term. It will need cooperation and responsibility from many
various nations and cultures for sea turtles to be truly protected around the world.
Research, devoted organizations and people's efforts, international laws and
agreements, and other factors all need to be taken into consideration. Creating
solutions that lessen reliance on management techniques requiring direct human
engagement, such as moving nests or rearing hatchlings in captivity, is essential
for the long-term protection of sea turtles. Sea turtles are doomed if they are
unable to thrive and reproduce on their own, without assistance from humans.
Feeding and nesting areas must be safeguarded, and a public ethic of wildlife
conservation that can withstand lapses in governmental oversight, pressure from
private interests, and shifts in the political landscape must be promoted.
To summarise, there are several dangers to sea turtles, and most of
the time, people are to blame. It is a mixed blessing for those of us seeking to
conserve sea turtles that so many of the risks are brought on by people. On the
one hand, altering human behavior is incredibly challenging. On the other hand,
removing threats is at least a possibility. There wouldn't be much we could do to
save sea turtles if geological or climatic changes were causing their extinction. Sea
turtles can always benefit from human assistance because of who we are. It should
begin within us first, and then the rest will follow.