What specific environmental factors affect Green Sea Turtles' ability to survive?
98720
the humans killing them
42094
It's the year of the Sea Turtle.
1103236
Western, European, Asian of Philipine pond turtle?\n\nThink in the range of 125 days. for the non exotic (non asian) ones.
630241
Turtles are slow because they don't have to go fast! Most turtles are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Plants don't run, so they're fairly easy to eat. Also, turtles have thick shells to protect them from predators. If you've ever picked up a turtle, you've seen how they can tuck in their heads and feet. Physically, turtles are slow because they have a pretty slow metabolism, which means their bodies process energy slowly. But animals with slow metabolisms often have longer lives -- some turtles live for more than one hundred years! Slow and steady wins the race.
578308
They have the short, simple digestive system of a carnivore that is very tolerant of rotting food full of bacteria.\n\nSome reptiles are also very tolerant of rotting food.
64641
Animals and plants develope unique features that help them to adapt to their enviroment.
577305
Sea turtles of all species are endangered (for an excellent reference see James R. Spotila's book "Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation"). The Leatherback, Kemp's ridley, and Hawksbill turtles are listed as Critically Endangered. The Olive ridley, Loggerhead, and Green turtles are considered Endangered. The Flat back is considered Data Deficient due to lack of research. They used to be hunted on a large scale in the whaling days for their meat, fat and shells. Coastal peoples have always gathered turtle eggs for consumption. Their biggest threat now comes from long-line fishing, and as bycatch in shrimp nets, as well as over development on nesting beaches. Each year it is said that 40,000 turtles die from longlines alone. According to researchers at the 24th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology, in Costa Rica the Pacific Leatherback has ten years before extinction if nothing is done to reverse these problems. Small and inexpensive changes to fishing techniques, such as slightly larger hooks and traps from which sea turtles can escape, can dramatically cut the mortality rate. Another danger comes from marine debris, especially from abandonded fishing nets in which they can become entangled.\n\n \nSea turtle trapped in a fishing netBeach development is another large area which has threatened sea turtles. Since sea turtles return to the same locations to nest, these areas may be protected by special police. In some areas, such as the east coast of Florida, after the adult turtles lay their eggs, they are dug up and relocated to special fenced nurseries where they can be protected from beach traffic. This is not the best thing to do, as many turtle species return to the beach on which they were born. Special lighting ordinances may also be enforced to prevent lights from shining on the beach and confusing young hatchlings from thinking it is the moon or sun and crawling toward it, usually crossing a road.\n\nOne of the biggest threats to sea turtles is the black market trade in eggs and meat. This is a pervasive problem throughout the world, but especially a concern in India, Indonesia and throughout the coastal nations of Latin America. Estimates are as high as 35,000 turtles killed a year in Mexico and the same number in Nicaragua. Conservationists in Mexico and the United States have launched "Don't Eat Sea Turtle" campaigns in order to reduce the urban black market trade in sea turtle products. These campaigns have involved figures such as Pope John Paul II, Dorismar, Los Tigres del Norte and Mana.\n\nInjured sea turtles are sometimes able to be rescued and rehabilitated by professional organizations such as the Marine Mammal Center in Northern California.
387607
you can check figure on http://webdomino1.oecd.org/comnet/ech/tradeandenv.nsf/viewHtml/index/$FILE/turtle.pdf
181135
Coral reef degradation\n\nhttp://www.sidsnet.org/pacific/usp/marine/Gcrmn/GCRMN/Node2000.htm
131553
most likely fish, or another animal that lives in water, perhaps an early reptile
661985
Few complex life forms we know of can survive exposure temperatures that low for more than a moment. However, if pockets of milder temperatures could be found (thermal vents, well isulated hybernation dens, etc) some life would likely adapt. Life forms that could mature and reproduce in one warm season (such as a plant that produces spores capable of surviving such a harsh winter) would have a great advantage. Plants such as trees woudn't stand a chance, as is true of many things humans and other complex life depend on for food and shelter. \n\nAnother consideration would be the erosion due to lack of any plants capable of maintaining a root system to stablize soil. Between the turbidity from erosion and likelyhood that all rivers would freeze solid through most of the winter, most life in rivers and lakes would become extinct. Since the upper temperature is not much if any higher than what we have now, the average temperatue is much lower. This would concentrate vast amounts of water in the icecaps, possibly enough to greatly increase the salinity of the oceans, which would also see a major drop in temperature. Most marine life is more sensitive to temperatue changes than terrestrial or freshwater life, so a great number of extinctions there also.\n\nSo no, life would not survive other than perhaps a few simple life forms. Even a drop of a dozen degrees in average temperature would be devastating in the long run for life as we know it.
342488
I think what you are referring to is "natural selection" aka "survival of the fittest"\n\nBasically the animal most suited to its environment due to mutation (the ones with genetic proclivity to have longer necks, stronger arms etc) will get more food/mates and will tend to, over a long period, tend to make the species move in that direction.\n\nBasic answer - if you need more drop me a line.
443721
it depends on the species, the soil condition, the amount of sunlight and the temp and wind or lack of.
316423
The Galapagos Archipelago was affected by the El Niño phenomenon between June 1997 and June 1998. The ongoing compilation of scientific results is showing a wide range of both negative effects and positive impacts that the increased rainfall and warmer water temperatures had on Galapagos flora and fauna. \n\nDuring the phenomenon most of the marine species populations decreased significantly. Terrestrial flora and fauna was flourishing with the plentiful rainfall, with abundant vegetation and food for land birds and reptiles. Now, the marine species are showing signs of recovery thanks to the return of nutrient-rich cold waters. \n\nSome species of algae were drastically decreased during the phenomenon (e.g. the green algae (Ulva lactuca) which serves as food for marine iguanas and crabs). The brown algae (Hincksia mitchellae) increased considerably and might have been one of the causes of death among marine iguanas. Due to the lack of green algae, marine iguanas were feeding on these brown algae instead, which is unfortunately toxic to them. On North Seymour there may have been a loss of 90% of the marine iguanas. The green algae are now coming back, and so are the iguanas. \n\nThe sealions suffered badly from the El Niño phenomenon. 90% of the pups born in 1997 and 67% of the dominant males died from starvation. Their basic food is sardines, which were absent during the phenomenon. The sea lion colonies are slowly increasing now.\n\nThe coral live in symbiosis with an alga that disappeared during the phenomenon. The coral is still alive, but as a consequence 70-80% were bleached. This process is reversible, and since the algae are reappearing, they are pigmenting the corals.\n\nThe Galapagos penguins were severely affected by the phenomenon. The population was decreased by 65% because of the lack of food. The penguins stopped mating, which can be explained by the fact that they don't nest when the water temperature is higher than 23oC. The situation became worse as rats ate the penguin eggs and chicks. The need of a rat eradication program is urgent!\n\nCormorants were not affected by the phenomenon, but other seabirds were, notably the boobies. Unsuccessful breeding was their biggest problem, caused by the nests being filled with rainwater and stressed adults having to go further to seek food. The seabirds are nesting and breeding again and some species already have chicks. Land birds, like Darwin's finches, the Galapago dove, owls and hawks have all been flourishing during the phenomenon due to the abundance of food. \n\nSharks and a lot of fish disappeared from their normal ranges and were found at unusual depths, probably due to the higher water temperatures in their usual habitat. Now, the animals are coming back to their normal range again. Both hammerhead and Galapagos white-tipped sharks are easy to find while diving. \n\nOne of the biggest concerns during an El Niño phenomenon is the establishment and dispersal of exotic species. Conditions are perfect for many of the introduced species and thrive in the wet conditions that provide an abundance of food. New species have been reported, and an increase in rat and mouse populations as well. This could cause a permanent ecological change in the Galapagos Archipelago.\n\nIn conclusion, we can say that the species affected during El Niño 1997-98 are now returning to their normal populations and behavior patterns. Exactly how long it will take is impossible to determine. However, it is still possible to see and experience many of these incredible species when you come to visit the Galapagos!
134471
In wet/moist climates
1111196
Factors such as drought, heat and over-fishing all contribute to a rising jellyfish count.  Warmer than usual coastal waters encourage the creatures to venture closer to shore, in search of lower salt concentrations and nutrients in urban waste water and agricultural run-off. At the same time the Mediterranean's population of larger fish and turtles -- which feed on jellyfish -- has declined.
490037
I am working on this problem without knowing if you even still need this info. But it is interesting. It seems the most important inorganic nutrient is sunlight!\n\nHere's a quote:\n\nAutotrophs absorb sunlight energy and transfer inorganic mineral nutrients into organic molecules. The autotrophs of the marine environment include algae and flowering plants and in the deep sea are chemosynthetic bacteria that harness inorganic chemical energy to build organic matter...AUTOTROPHIC NUTRITION..supply food molecules to organisms that can't absorb sunlight.\n\nfrom:http://darter.ocps.net/classroom/klenk/Ecology.htm\n\nHere's another link relative to the subject, I think:\nhttp://pubmedcentral.com/articlerender.fcgi?artid=18283\n\nThe oceanic distribution of cadmium follows closely that of major algal nutrients such as phosphate. The reasons for this “nutrient-like” distribution are unclear, however, because cadmium is not generally believed to have a biological function. Herein, we provide evidence of a biological role for Cd in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii under conditions of low zinc, typical of the marine environment. Addition of Cd to Zn-limited cultures enhances the growth rate of T. weissflogii, particularly at low pCO2. This increase in growth rate is reflected in increased levels of cellular carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, although the levels of TWCA1, the major intracellular Zn-requiring isoform of CA in T. weissflogii, remain low. 109Cd label comigrates with a protein band that shows CA activity and is distinct from TWCA1 on native PAGE of radiolabeled T. weissflogii cell lysates. The levels of the Cd protein are modulated by CO2 in a manner that is consistent with a role for this enzyme in carbon acquisition. Purification of the CA-active fraction leads to the isolation of a Cd-containing protein of 43 kDa. It is now clear that T. weissflogii expresses a Cd-specific CA, which, particularly under conditions of Zn limitation, can replace the Zn enzyme TWCA1 in its carbon-concentrating mechanism.\n\nMarine microorganisms are largely responsible for the cycling, and therefore the distribution, of many nutrients in the sea, and it is the availability of these nutrients that, in turn, controls oceanic primary production. This relationship is as true of essential trace elements as it is of major nutrients. In oceanic systems, the water column distribution of many biologically important trace metals is thus similar to that of the major nutrients: phosphate, nitrate, and silicate. At the surface, where photosynthetic activity depletes algal nutrients, such metals are present at extremely low concentrations, presumably as the result of biological uptake. Like those of major nutrients, these metal concentrations increase at depth because of decomposition of organic matter and remineralization.\n\nZinc, which has many known biological functions (1), is a good example of a metal that follows this type of nutrient-like profile. Cadmium, however, which is generally thought to be universally deleterious to living organisms, also has a nutrient-like profile (2); its concentration is so well correlated to that of phosphate that the accumulation of Cd in the fossilized tests of marine invertebrates is used as a measure of past nutrient concentrations in the sea (3). In the absence of a demonstrated biological function for Cd, it has been widely thought that abiotic processes, such as adsorption onto organic particles, modulate the distribution of this metal. Recently, it has been proposed that the depletion of Cd from surface seawater is caused by its use by marine phytoplankton (4). Under conditions of Zn limitation, Cd enhances the growth rate of some marine phytoplankton in culture (4–6), and it thus seems that Cd may replace Zn in some essential biochemical function.\n\nIn Thalassiosira weissflogii, the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) constitutes a major use of cellular Zn (7), and the expression of TWC