Lesson Plan – Sea Turtle Life Cycle Summary Content Area · This lesson explains the life cycle of sea turtles focusing on specific aspects of the loggerhead sea turtle life cycle.

LessonPlan–SeaTurtleLifeCycleSummaryThislessonexplainsthelifecycleofseaturtlesfocusingonspecificaspectsoftheloggerheadseaturtlelifecycle.TheSoutheasternU.S.hasthelargestnestingaggregationofloggerheadseaturtles.Seaturtlesarealsocharismaticmegafaunathathighlightmanyoftheharmfulenvironmentalimpactsthataffectsealife.Thislessonwilladdresshowtheseenvironmentalimpactshavebeenaddressedthroughactionsofconcernedcitizensandpublicpolicy.ContentAreaMarineBiology,EnvironmentalPolicyGradeLevel3-5KeyConcept(s)•  Seaturtlesareagreatcasestudytoexaminehowwemustlookattheentirelifecycleofan

animaltofullyunderstandhowtoprotectit.•  LoggerheadseaturtlesnestonbeachesinthesoutheasternU.S.,travelthousandsofmilesand

spendalotoftimeinopenoceanwatersthroughouttheirdevelopmentandmaturity,andfeedinshallownearshorewaters.

KeyConcept(s)•  Seaturtlesexperiencedifferentthreatsfromhumanactivityineachstageoftheir

lifecycle.Examplesincludebeacherosionanddevelopmentthreatennestingareasandtheyareatriskofbeingnettedandentangledinfishinggear.

•  Federalfishingregulationsandstate/localbeachdevelopmentguidelinescanhelpprotectseaturtles.

ObjectivesStudentswillbeableto:•  Namethreedifferenthabitatsintheoceanecosystemthatareessentialtothelife

cycleoftheloggerheadseaturtle.•  Explainthreatstologgerhead(andother)seaturtlesatdifferentstagesoftheirlife

cycle.•  Describeonepolicyimplementedtohelpconserveseaturtles.•  Describetwothingspeoplecandotohelpprotectseaturtlesandotherwildlifein

ouroceansandalongourshorelines.

LessonPlan–SeaTurtleLifeCycle

ResourcesNOAAProtectedResourcesDivision:Informationonbiology,threats,conservationandmanagementofseaturtles.Thispagealsoincludesdozensoflinkstoadditionalresourcesforseaturtles.http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/index.htmlGCOOSModelForecasts:InformationandgraphicsonoceancirculationintheGulfofMexicoandSoutheasternAtlanticOceantohighlightmigrationroutesofloggerheadseaturtles.http://gcoos.org/products/index.php/model-forecasts/


NationalScienceEducationStandardorOceanLiteracyEssentialPrinciple

LearningGoals

UnifyingConceptsandProcesses1.Systems,order,andorganization

Order,thebehaviorofunitsofmatter,objects,organisms,oreventsintheuniverse,canbedescribedstatistically.Inscience,reductionofuncertaintyoccursthroughsuchprocessesasthedevelopmentofknowledgeaboutfactorsinfluencingobjects,organisms,systems,orevents;betterandmoreobservations;andbetterexplanatorymodels.

UnifyingConceptsandProcesses5.Formandfunction

Formandfunctionarecomplementaryaspectsofobjects,organisms,andsystemsinthenaturalanddesignedworld.Theformorshapeofanobjectorsystemisfrequentlyrelatedtouse,operation,orfunction.

ScienceasInquiryA.2.Understandingsaboutscientificinquiry

Scientistsdevelopexplanationsusingobservations(evidence)andwhattheyalreadyknowabouttheworld(scientificknowledge).Goodexplanationsarebasedonevidencefrominvestigations.



LearningGoals

LifeScienceC.1.Characteristicsoforganisms

1.Organismshavebasicneeds.Forexample,animalsneedair,water,andfood.Organismscansurviveonlyinenvironmentsinwhichtheirneedscanbemet.Theworldhasmanydifferentenvironments,anddistinctenvironmentssupportthelifeofdifferenttypesoforganisms.2.Eachplantoranimalhasdifferentstructuresthatservedifferentfunctionsingrowth,survival,andreproduction.3.Thebehaviorofindividualorganismsisinfluencedbyinternalcues(suchashunger)andbyexternalcues(suchasachangeintheenvironment).

LifeScienceC.2.Lifecyclesoforganisms

Plantsandanimalshavelifecyclesthatincludebeingborn,developingintoadults,reproducing,andeventuallydying.Thedetailsofthislifecyclearedifferentfordifferentorganisms.



LearningGoals

LifeScienceC.3.Organismsandenvironments

1.Anorganism’spatternsofbehaviorarerelatedtothenatureofthatorganism’senvironment,includingthekindsandnumbersofotherorganismspresent,theavailabilityoffoodandresources,andthephysicalcharacteristicsoftheenvironment.Whentheenvironmentchanges,someplantsandanimalssurviveandreproduce,andothersdieormovetonewlocations.2.Humansdependontheirnaturalandconstructedenvironments.Humanschangeenvironmentsinwaysthatcanbeeitherbeneficialordetrimentalforthemselvesandotherorganisms.

ScienceinPersonalandSocialPerspectivesF.4.Changesinenvironments

Changesinenvironmentscanbenaturalorinfluencedbyhumans.Somechangesaregood,somearebad,andsomeareneithergoodnorbad.Pollutionisachangeintheenvironmentthatcaninfluencethehealth,survival,oractivitiesoforganisms,includinghumans.



LearningGoals

Principle5(3-5A.)Theoceansupportsagreatdiversityoflifeandecosystems.DiversityofEcosystem

Theoceansupportsagreatdiversityofinterconnectedandinterdependentecosystems,eachdefinedbytheinteractionofthephysicalenvironmentandthecommunityoforganismslivingthere.

Principle5(3-5B.,B.1.,B.5.)Theoceansupportsagreatdiversityoflifeandecosystems.DiversityofLife

B.TheoceanprovidesmostoftheEarth’slivingspaceandsupportsagreatdiversityoflifefromthesurface,throughthewatercolumn,anddowntotheseafloor.B.1.Thegreatdiversityofecosystemsintheoceanprovidesopportunitiesfororganismstodevelopagreatdiversityofadaptations,manyofwhichareuniquetoorganismslivingintheocean.B.5.Organismsintheoceanexhibitanamazingvarietyoflifecycles.Someundergometamorphosisandhaveplanktonicphases,somelayeggsandothersnursetheiryoung.



LearningGoals

Principle6(3-5C.,C.7.,C.10.,C.12.,C.13.)Theoceanandhumansareinextricablyinterconnected.Humanimpactontheocean.

C.Humansimpacttheoceaninpositiveandnegativeways.C.1.Thetrashandpollutantspeopleputintotheenvironmentaffectstheoceanandlifeintheocean.C.3.Marinedebrisentanglesoceanlife,introduceschemicalpollutantsandcanbecomeahazardtonavigation.C.7.Individualscantakeactionstoprotecttheocean.C.10.Everyonecanlearnandinfluenceotherpeopleaboutthewiseuseandprotectionoftheocean.C.12.Nationalandinternationallawsdefinehowweprotecttheocean.C.13.Lawscreatemarinesanctuaries,reserves,andmarineprotectedareasthatareintendedtokeeptheseareassafeandhealthy.


SeaTurtles:AnExampleofWhyUnderstandingLifeCyclesMatters

Scienceinformspolicy.•  Policyistheplanofactionorsetof

rulespeoplemustfollow.–  Whatisoneexampleofyour

teacher’sclassroompolicy?

•  Fishingnetswerekillingthousandsofseaturtles.

•  Scientistshelpedresourcemanagerschangetheequipmentusedbyfishermen.

•  Now,fishingnetsmusthaveaTurtleExcluderDevice(TED).Itisanescapehatchforseaturtles.

Whyareseaturtleshardtoprotect?

•  Therearelandscapesandseascapes.•  WhenyoustudiedFlorida’s

landscapes,youlookedatthecoastalplainsandthehigherelevationuplandsinthenorthernpartofthestate.

•  Whenwestudyseascapes,one

featurewelookatishowtheoceanbottom(bathymetry)changes.

St.Petersburg

GulfOf

Mexico

ContinentalShelf(edgeoflighttodarkerblue)

Seaturtlesspenddifferentpartsoftheirlivesindifferentplaces.

•  Theynestandhatchonthebeach.

•  Theyspendmanyyears

growingnearthesurfaceoftheopenocean.

•  Theyfeed(forage)inshallow

coastalwaters.

•  Toprotectseaturtles,ALLPARTSOFTHEIRHABITATmustbehealthy!

Wheredohatchlingsgowhentheyleavethenest?

TheyusesignalsfromEarth’smagneticfieldtocatchoceancurrents!

MagnetoreceptionExamplesofanimalsthatnavigatebyEarth’smagneticfieldLoggerheadseaturtlesHomingPigeonsMoleratesShearwaters(seabird)SpinylobstersHoneybeesMonarchbutterfliesSalmon

MosquitoesNewtsRainbowtroutDolphins

MoteMarineLabtrackedaloggerheadnamedSherlock.Thisishisstory!

SherlockstrandednearAnnaMariaIslandin2004.HewasreleasedontheeastcoastofFloridawherehetraveledacrossthefast-movingGulfStreamcurrent.Eventhoughthecurrentwasstrong,byfollowingEarth’smagneticfieldhenavigatedbacktotheGulf.

Somefactsaboutloggerheads•  Adultfemalesstartbreedingataboutage

20.Theylay80-120eggsatatime.Thisiscalledaclutch.

•  Breedingseasonlastsabout2months.

Duringthistime,afemalecanlayfrom2to5clutches,oneclutchevery10to15days.

•  Femalesreturntofeedingareas.Itcantake

severalmonthstotravel.Femalesreturntomateaboutonceevery2to4years.

•  Ifafemalelays5clutchesofeggsandeachclutchhas120eggs,howmanyeggsdidshelay?

Scientists estimate that only 1 in 1,000 to 10,000 babies survive to adulthood!

LoggerheadHatchlingsMustdigtheirwaytothesurface.Thiscantakeafewdays.Mostwaituntilnighttoheadfortheoceantoavoidpredators.Onceinthewater,theyswimlikecrazyforafewdaystoreachdeepwater.Duringthistime,theydonoteat.Theyarefueledbyleftovereggyolk.Strongcurrentstakethemtotheopen-oceanwheretheyliveinflotsam,suchasSargassummats(brownalgae).Theyareomnivores—eatplantsandanimals.Thisoceanicstagecanlastfromafewyearstodecades.

LoggerheadJuveniles

Aftertheoceanicperiod,thejuvenileturtlesfinishgrowingincoastalareaswherefoodisabundant.Thiscantakeafewyearsoraslongasafewdecades.Becausetherearemanypredatorsincoastalareas,theyoungturtleswaittoenteruntiltheyreachalargerbodysize.Juvenilesandadultssharethefeedingareas.Adultturtlesstayinfeedingareasuntiltheyhaveenoughenergytomigratebacktobreedinggroundsforreproduction.Distancescanbetensofthousandsofkilometersaway.Mostfemaleslaytheireggsonthebeachwheretheyhatched.

Therearemanythreatstoseaturtles!

Thalassia

Whatdologgerheadseatandwhateatsthem?

Inthisactivity,studentswillcreateatexturedmapillustratingthedifferentpartsofthevastareasutilizedbyloggerheadseaturtlesatdifferentpartsoftheirlifecycle.Thecreationofthemapwillhelpstudentsunderstandthedifferentecosystemsthatseaturtlesrelyonduringthephasesoftheirlifecycle,thegreatdistancesthatseaturtlestravelthroughoutthecourseoftheirlives,andsetthetoneforadiscussiononthedifficultiesofprotectingseaturtlesastheymovethroughthedifferentpartsoftheAtlanticOcean,CaribbeanSea,andGulfofMexico.Materials:•  Foamboard•  Greenandblueconstructionpaper•  Glue•  Whitebeans•  Sand•  Spanishmoss(orsimilarplant)touseforsargassum•  Redandgreenpipecleaners•  Plasticgems,sequinsorsimilaritems(beads,smallshells)touseforforageitems

Activity–SeaTurtleLifeCycle

Whatarewegoingtodo?

•  Wearegoingtomakeamapshowingthepartsofthehabitatusedbyloggerheadseaturtlesduringtheirlifecycle.

•  Ourmapwillshowhowtheyusethreedifferenthabitats:1)Beachfornesting;2)Openocean(oceaniczone)whentheyarejuvenilesandyoungadults;3)Shallowwatercoastalareas(neritic zone)whentheyareolderjuvenilesandadults.Allofthesehabitatsandthefoodsourcesineachmustbeconsideredinloggerheadmanagement!

AFRICA

Europe

Procedure:Step-by-Step

1.Takeonefoamboardandgluethe“ocean”toit(rectangleofbluepaper).2.Gluethegreenpapercontinentsontopoftheocean

–  NorthAmericaisonthewestsideoftheAtlanticOcean–  EuropeisonthenortheastsideoftheAtlanticOcean–  AfricaonthesoutheastsideoftheAtlanticOcean

3.GlueanarrowstripofsandaroundtheedgeofFloridatomakeabeach.4.Glueandpressintothebeachaturtlenest.Usewhitebeansfortheeggs.5.Usingtheloggerheadmigrationmapinyourdatabook,drawtheoceangyrethatloggerheadsfollowonyourmap.Noticehowthecurrentsmoveclockwisetoformthegyre.Labelthecurrentsthatmakeupthegyre.

Procedure:Step-by-Step

6.Glue“Sargassum”(usetheSpanishmoss)ontopofthelinesyoudrewfortheoceangyre.ThecenterofthisoceangyreisknownastheSargassoSea.7.Usingthepipecleaners(greenforturtlegrassandredformollusks),createtwofeedingareas.Useabout3greenand2redpipecleanersforeacharea.

–  MakeonenearthecoastofEuropeandonenearthecoastinthewesternpartoftheGulfofMexico.

8.Ifyouhavetime,usethegems,sequinsandothermaterialstoaddforagingitems(food)thatloggerheadsliketoeat(jellyfish,conchs,whelks,othermollusks,crabs,lobsters,shrimp…)

Kemp’sRidley--smallestoftheseaturtles;nestsonlyinnorthernMexicoandinTexas

Leatherback--largestoftheseaturtles,reaching6ft(1.8m)inlengthand1,500pounds(680kg)

Loggerheads--namedforpowerfuljawsthatcancrushanadultqueenconch.

Oliveridley—nestbythethousandsin“arribadas”(Spanishfor‘arrival’)

Flatback--coastofAustralia.Littleisknownaboutthisspecies.

Greenturtle--mostnumerousandwidelydispersednestingsitesofthesevenspecies.

Hawksbillfeedsprimarilyonreefglasssponges

Turtle Trivia

•  Florida beaches are home to 80% of Loggerhead turtles in the U.S. •  Turtles can migrate thousands of miles, but usually return to lay their eggs on the same beach

where they hatched •  Sea turtles have existed for over one hundred million years •  Sea turtles are reptiles. They breathe air, and can hold their breath for long periods of time. •  When its time to sleep, a loggerhead will wedge under a rock close to the shore, or take a snooze

while floating on the surface of deep water •  Hatchlings weigh less than one ounce and are only two inches long. Adults can grow over 3 feet

long and weigh 200 to 300 pounds! •  The nest temperature during incubation determines a sea turtle's sex. Boys like it cool - Girls like it

hot. •  Sea turtles have great underwater vision, but are nearsighted out of the water. •  Although sea turtles do not have external ears, they are capable of hearing low frequency sounds

and vibrations •  Sea turtles use their strong jaws to crush a diet of crabs, shrimp, mussels, and jelly fish.

AcknowledgementsLessondevelopedbyDr.ChrisSimonielloforBayPointElementary.Standards-cross-referencingandformattingbyGrantCraig.Questions,comments,edits?ContactDr.Chris:[email protected]

1.  TemplateforcontinentsEuropeandAfrica2.  Stepbystepprocedurecutoutsforindividualuse

3.  SeaTurtleHurdleGame:Thisgamecanbesetupinaschoolyardorfield.Itisrecommendedtoplayonasoftsurfacesuchasgrassorsand.Thisgamehighlightsthechallengesseaturtlesfaceateachstageoftheirlives.

Appendix

AFRICA

EURO

PE

EURO

PE

AFRICA

LoggerheadSeaTurtleLifeCycleMap:Step-by-Step

1.  Takeonefoamboardandgluethe“ocean”toit(rectangleofbluepaper).

2.  Gluethegreenpapercontinentsontopoftheocean •  NorthAmericaisonthewestsideoftheAtlanticOcean •  EuropeisonthenortheastsideoftheAtlanticOcean •  AfricaonthesoutheastsideoftheAtlanticOcean

3.  GlueanarrowstripofsandaroundtheedgeofFloridatomakeabeach.

4.  Glueandpressintothebeachaturtlenest.Usewhitebeansfortheeggs.

5.  Usingtheloggerheadmigrationfigureinyourdatabook,drawonyourmaptheoceangyrethatloggerheadsfollow.Putarrowsinthedirectionthecurrentsaremoving,thenlabelthecurrents.

6.  GlueSargassum(usetheSpanishmoss)ontopofthelinesyoudrewfortheoceancurrents.LabeltheSargassoSeawhichisinthecenteroftheoceangyre.

7.  Usethepipecleaners(greenforturtlegrass,redformollusksandcrustaceans)tocreatetwofeedingareas.MakeonenearthecoastofEuropeandtheothernearthecoastintheGulfofMexico.

8.  Ifyouhavetime,usethegems,sequinsandothermaterialstoaddforaging(food)itemsloggerheadsliketoeat(jellyfish,conchs,whelks,othermollusks,crabs,lobsters,shrimp…). LoggerheadSeaTurtleLifeCycleMap:Step-by-Step








8.  Ifyouhavetime,usethegems,sequinsandothermaterialstoaddforaging(food)itemsloggerheadsliketoeat(jellyfish,conchs,whelks,othermollusks,crabs,lobsters,shrimp…).



















TurtleHurdle

Run(swim)foryourlife!

AnimalsdonotalwaysremaininthesameTROPHIClevel.Flounderprovideanexample.Larvaefeedoncopepods.Adultsfeedonclams,snailsandworms.

SeaGrassZone

SeaGrassZone

SeaTurtlesatRisk•  BeachZone:Predators

–  Raccoon–  Dog–  Fox–  Ghostcrab

•  OpenOcean:Predators–  Sharks–  Orcas–  Seabirds–  Crabs–  Plastics

GameRules:SeaTurtles1.Safetyfirst!Nopushing,shoving,tackling!2.Yourgoal:RunbetweentheYearZonestogetbirthdaytokens.

–  EachbirthdaytokenisworthTWOyears–  Youneedfivetokenstobe10yearsold.

3.Youmuststaywithinthegamefieldboundaries.4.AsyourunbetweenYearZones,predatorswillbetryingtogetyou!Everytimeyouaretaggedbyapredator,youmustgiveone“egg”tothepredatorthattaggedyou.5.Ifyouloseallyoureggs,youmustgositintheMortalityZone(youaredead!).6.TheseagrasszoneisaSafeZone.Youmaystaytherefor3secondswithoutbeingtagged.Itisonlyasafezoneforturtlesthatare0-4yrsold.Afteragefour,youaretoobigtohideinthegrassandpredatorscantagyou!7.Ifyouhaveeggsafterreachingage10(fivetokens),runbacktothenestingzoneandsit.Youhavesurvivedlongenoughtostartanewgeneration!

GameRules:Predators1.Safetyfirst!Nopushing,shoving,tackling!2.Predatorsmuststayintheirownzone.

–  Ifyouareabeachpredator,youcannottaganyoneintheocean.

–  Ifyouareanoceanpredator,youcannottaganyoneonthebeach.

3.Youcannottagthesamepersontwotimesinarow.4.Youcannottagaturtlethathasstoppedtogiveaneggtoanotherpredator.5.Youmuststayatleastfourstepsawayfromaturtlethatisgivinganeggtoanotherpredator.6.Trytogetasmanyeggsasyoucan!

Lesson Plan – Sea Turtle Life Cycle Summary Content Area · This lesson explains the life cycle of sea turtles focusing on specific aspects of the loggerhead sea turtle life cycle.

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