Latest news with #EndangeredSpeciesResearch
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists celebrate remarkable trend observed in sea turtle populations: 'One of the real ... success stories'
A new survey reveals a promising trend for sea turtle populations across the globe. According to reports relayed by in more than half the world, endangered sea turtles "show signs of recovery." Published in the journal Endangered Species Research, the study examined 48 sea turtle populations located in different parts of the world and analyzed the effect of factors identified as threats to the species' survival. These threats included coastal development, pollution, hunting, and rising global temperatures. The overall trend of the survey indicated hopeful results, with threats declining in more than half the areas reviewed. "Many of the turtle populations have come back, though some haven't," Duke ecologist Stuart Pimm said, according to "Overall, the sea turtle story is one of the real conservation success stories." Like any conservation initiative, the protection of sea turtles began years ago, and now, after decades, those efforts are coming to fruition. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, sea turtles were listed as a protected species. Nearly two decades later, Mexico prohibited sea turtle captures, another step in the right direction that influenced population recovery years later. In coastal areas near Mexico and the U.S., sea turtle populations "are now doing really well," according to study co-author and Stanford University researcher Michelle María Early Capistrán. Despite the overall recovery trend, some sea turtle populations are still struggling. Leatherback turtles, for example, are "vulnerable to extinction" and "face high environmental risks," according to the survey. Other species, such as the green turtle, are still listed as endangered across the globe but have shown signs of recovery in different areas. The survey underscores the positive impact conservation efforts have had on various sea turtle populations. Moving forward, as conservationists continue to protect sea turtles, they help preserve biodiversity across the globe. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
India Today
25-04-2025
- Science
- India Today
Endangered sea turtles recovering, but leatherback still staring at extinction
Reduction of threats, ranging from hunting to climate change, has led to the recovery of the endangered sea turtle in the majority of areas of the world.A new study published in the journal Endangered Species Research was done by considering the populations of 48 sea turtles around the world, out of which, more than half of the areas studied depicted declining threats as a boon for their of the turtle populations have come back, though some haven't,' said Stuart Pimm, one of the researchers told the Associated Press. 'Overall, the sea turtle story is one of the real conservation success stories.' Leatherback turtles and sea turtle populations in the Pacific Ocean are an exception to this. They are recovering more slowly compared to their to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), even though leatherbacks are considMred vulnerable to extinction, many groups are critically endangered. More than half of the areas studied depicted declining threats as a boon for their survival. (Photo: Getty) 'All seven of the regions where leatherbacks are found face high environmental risks,' said study co-author Bryan Wallace, a wildlife ecologist at Ecolibrium in to their nature of swimming for long distances, as much as 5,955 kilometres, the leatherback turtles are exposed to unique even though the populations of green turtles show signs of recovery, they are still considered endangered globally.'By ending commercial harvests and allowing them time to rebound, their populations are now doing well in coastal waters off many regions of Mexico and the US,' said co-author Michelle Mara Early though sea turtles were protected under the US Endangered Species Act of 1973, and Mexico banned all captures of sea turtles in 1990, it took a few decades for the results of these though new technologies are being developed to spare sea turtles from becoming prey to the fish nets, they need wide acceptance by the fishing Reel
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Endangered sea turtles show global recovery in new survey
LOS ANGELES - Endangered sea turtles are making a comeback in many parts of the world, according to a newly published global survey. The study, featured in Endangered Species Research, found that threats to the marine animals—such as hunting, pollution, and coastal development—are declining in more than half of the areas examined. Although the findings offer hope, researchers caution that not all turtle populations are rebounding equally. Leatherback turtles, in particular, remain under severe threat. Where are sea turtles recovering—and where are they not? Dig deeper The survey analyzed 48 distinct sea turtle populations worldwide and found that those in the Atlantic Ocean are generally faring better than their counterparts in the Pacific. Species like the green turtle, while still endangered globally, are showing notable signs of recovery—especially in regions like Mexico and the U.S., where protections have been in place for decades. According to Stanford researcher Michelle María Early Capistrán, who co-authored the study, population rebounds are now visible due to longstanding efforts like beach conservation and fishing regulation. "By ending commercial harvests and allowing them time to rebound, their populations are now doing really well" in coastal waters off many regions of Mexico and the U.S., said co-author Michelle María Early Capistrán, a Stanford University researcher who has conducted fieldwork in both countries. The other side Unlike green turtles, leatherback turtles remain critically endangered in many areas. The survey notes that all seven regions where leatherbacks are found face high environmental risks. Bryan Wallace, a wildlife ecologist and co-author of the study, told the AP that leatherbacks' long migratory routes—spanning more than 3,700 miles in some cases—expose them to a broader array of threats, including fishing gear entanglements and changing ocean conditions. He emphasized that while new fishing technologies can help reduce bycatch, they need to be widely adopted by global fishing communities to make a difference. Timeline The recovery of sea turtles has been shaped by decades of conservation policy, with legal protections and international efforts gradually showing results. 1973: Sea turtles are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act 1990: Mexico bans all captures of sea turtles 2025: First major global update on sea turtle populations in over a decade published Researchers say it has taken decades for these protections to yield noticeable population improvements, underscoring the long-term nature of conservation work. What they're saying Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm, who was not involved in the study, told the AP that the findings represent one of the clearest conservation wins to date. "Many of the turtle populations have come back, though some haven't," he said. "Overall, the sea turtle story is one of the real conservation success stories." The Source This article is based on reporting by Christina Larson for the Associated Press. It summarizes findings from a global sea turtle population survey published in the journal Endangered Species Research and includes quotes from scientists interviewed by the AP, including Bryan Wallace, Michelle María Early Capistrán, and Stuart Pimm.
NBC News
17-04-2025
- Science
- NBC News
Endangered sea turtle populations show signs of recovery in more than half the world, survey finds
Sea turtles were protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, and Mexico banned all captures of sea turtles in 1990. But it took a few decades for the results of these actions — alongside efforts to protect nesting beaches and reduce accidental bycatch in fishing — to show up in population trends, she said. Around the world, the problem of sea turtles dying after accidentally becoming entangled in fishing gear remains a major threat, said Wallace. New technologies are being developed to spare turtles, but they must be accepted and used regularly by diverse fishing communities to be effective, he added. The survey was published in the journal Endangered Species Research and is the first update in more than a decade.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers uncover unexpected sea turtle behavior at critical nesting site: 'There is no guarantee that they carry on doing this'
Sea turtles return to the same nesting sites year after year to grow their populations, but rising global temperatures have disrupted this ancient cycle. New research has found that two sea turtle species in Cyprus have gradually shifted instinctual nesting patterns in response to climate shifts. The new research found that green and loggerhead turtles in Cyprus have reacted to rising global temperatures by returning to their nesting areas earlier and earlier each year. A team of researchers from the University of Exeter and the Society for the Protection of Turtles documented these behavior changes in two separate studies — one published in Endangered Species Research and the other in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. As a post from the University of Exeter at lays out, ocean temperatures determine the sex of sea turtle offspring, "with more females born when it is warmer, as well as fewer successful hatchings when it gets too hot." Given this, scientists predict that, by 2100, unless the species moves up its nesting schedule, there will be few if any new loggerhead turtle offspring. In the report on loggerhead turtles, scientists noted that the animals need to move up their nesting by about 0.5 days each year in order to maintain the species' sex ratio. They need to move up nesting by about 0.7 days each year "to stabilise hatching success." The team's new data shows that loggerheads have already been moving up their nesting timelines, returning to nest 0.78 days earlier per year since 1993. As for green turtles, the team found that the species is nesting 6.47 days earlier for each 1-degree Celsius increase in ocean temperature, per the article at "This is a bit of good news, as we've shown that these turtles are responding to the elevated temperatures brought about by climate change by shifting to cooler months to nest," co-author Annette Broderick said. "There is no guarantee that they carry on doing this though." The World Wildlife Fund lists green turtles as endangered and loggerhead turtles as vulnerable. Sea turtles are threatened by climate change, including through habitat loss, global temperature increases, and severe storms. Marine pollution like discarded plastics, tangled fishing lines, and oil spills also threaten the animals. With these populations at such risk, sea turtles need to nest successfully to enable species survival. And while it's good news that turtles have already been adapting their nesting behavior, it's bad news that they must. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Understanding changes in sea turtle nesting is essential to guiding conservation efforts to protect them. By studying these changes, scientists can develop key strategies to safeguard nesting areas, ensure hatchling survival, and maintain sex-based diversity within sea turtle populations. Shifts in sea turtle nesting behavior also highlight the toll of rising global temperatures — and the need to address the human behaviors causing these increases. While the changing nesting behavior of sea turtles is the species' way of addressing rising temperatures for themselves, researchers are also taking steps to help. Scientists continuously track sea turtles to help understand their reactions to climate shifts. Conservationists have also implemented various strategies to protect sea turtle nesting sites, including setting up regulated and monitored areas and broadening public education. Conservation programs to combat habitat destruction, address pollution, and mitigate bycatch also help support sea turtle populations. Policies reducing planet-warming pollution benefit sea turtles as well by stabilizing ocean temperatures and preserving their ecosystems. On an individual level — along with taking steps to mitigate your personal contributions to rising temperatures — working to promote healthier oceans and support cleaner recreation areas can also help support sea turtle populations. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
