Loggerhead Sea Turtle: An Informational Speech

SPC 100 Work Sample

SLIDE 1

Hello, I’m Cally Gudroe. I will be talking about the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. 

I will be discussing the Loggerhead’s role in the ocean ecosystem, the current state of endangered population, and how their lives impact ours. 

SLIDE 2

According to the National Wildlife Federation, Loggerhead turtles play an essential role in marine ecosystems as mid-level predators, helping control populations of bottom-dwelling invertebrates, such as crabs and mollusks. This predation helps maintain balance on the ocean floor and supports the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds. 

SLIDE 3

Loggerheads also contribute to nutrient cycling by consuming marine vegetation.

As they feed on seagrass, they inadvertently consume small pieces of algae that would otherwise settle on coral reefs and hinder their growth. The turtle’s presence keeps algae levels in check and makes sure the reefs receive sufficient light for photosynthesis. 

and releasing nutrients through their waste, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, two elements essential for the growth and development of coral polyps. 

SLIDE 4

Additionally, sea turtles provide a mobile habitat for many marine organisms. Barnacles, algae, and small creatures known as epibionts attach themselves to the turtles’ shells. 

As sea turtles move through the ocean, they carry these organisms, offering a food source for fish and shrimp. In fact, some fish species rely entirely on the epibionts found on sea turtles for their diet.

SLIDE 5

Sea turtles are prey to various animals throughout their entire lives. They are prey to creatures such as orcas,sharks,birds, and jaguars. 

This also makes Loggerhead Sea Turtles a Keystone Species, meaning they have a significant impact on the health and biodiversity of our oceans – an impact that affects us. And their population is dwindling.

SLIDE 6

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have grandparents who lived on the Floridian Coast. I have been able to visit for about a month or so out of the year since 2016. 

During the 2016 June visit to Florida during my youth, I would see an average of about 7-10 markings labeling loggerhead nests within a couple of miles. Three summers ago, summer of 2021, I trekked 2 miles of the beach, and only found 2 markings. 

SLIDE 7

The national Marine Fisheries Service states that the Loggerhead sea turtle populations have declined by over 80% in the past 25 years. 

The current global estimate for loggerhead sea turtles is around 50,000, a stark contrast to the several million that once inhabited the world’s oceans. 

SLIDE 8

In 1978 the species were labeled as Threatened, and in 2011 they were put on the Endangered Species list. 

This is a graph From the Florida fish and wildlife service. It shows the loggerhead nest counts on three Florida panhandle index peaches that have been monitored since 1997. You can see the decrease in population as we get to 2011 where they were labeled endangered, and then the positive increase until 2023. However this positive fluctuation is not very significant. 

SLIDE 9

I want to show you a chart real quick. This shows the Nesting Activity in St. John’s County, where my grandparents live. As you can see, as of 31st of October, 2024, there were 863 nests found, 829 of them Loggerheads. There are a reported 41,231 hatchlings that emerged from those nests. 

You may be thinking, that number is almost the same amount of reported adult loggerheads in the world. But you have to factor in environmental challenges. 

The National Fish and Wildlife Services states that only 1 in 10 hatchlings survive each year.

By that factor, only 4,123 turtles will survive from the Beaches of St. John’s County, give or take. 

So what are these environmental challenges?

SLIDE 10

1. Human Activity: direct harvest of turtles and eggs for food (mainly seen in third world countries), vessel strikes, and bycatch in fishing gear during legal and illegal fishing. 
2. Climate change – caused by human activity. 

SLIDE 11

In 2019 Florida State University did a study suggesting that climate change may have mixed effects on loggerhead turtles 

Researchers investigated 17 loggerhead nesting beaches along Brazil’s coast and found that warming temperatures in nesting beaches closer to the equator are expected to experience decreased hatchling production due to rising temperatures and increased precipitation. 

In contrast, warming temperatures in cooler nesting regions could boost hatchling production.

However, this improvement is expected to be temporary, as further climate change will likely push temperatures beyond safe thresholds for incubation. 

SLIDE 12  

So how does this affect our lives? 

First off, how many of you like going to the beach? 

SLIDE 13

Beaches and dunes get very few nutrients, so little vegetation grows, but sea turtles contribute by laying eggs that provide essential nutrients for dune plants. unhatched eggs, trapped hatchlings, and eggshells enrich the soil, helping dune vegetation grow stronger and stabilize the ecosystem.

These are photos I took in 2018. Showing the dunes I had to navigate through to get from the road to the beachfront. 

 If sea turtle populations decline or go extinct, the dunes would lose this vital nutrient source, weakening vegetation and increasing beach erosion. 

SLIDE 14

Secondly, Who here likes seafood? 

Well, I know, it’s uncommon here, but did you know that more than 3 BILLION people in the world rely on seafood as a significant source of protein in their everyday diet. Loggerheads help maintain the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs that benefit commercially valuable species such as shrimp, lobster, and tuna. 

SLIDE 15

When algae blooms are left unchecked, they have been known to overload coral reefs and seagrass beds, leading to the deteriorating health of species we consume, and the overall health of the world’s beaches… 

SLIDE 16

Thank you for listening, from me and the Loggerheads!