1. Habitat Loss and Degradation: Green turtles rely on healthy coral reefs and seagrass beds for feeding and nesting. However, human activities such as coastal development, pollution, overfishing, and climate change have led to the degradation of these habitats. The loss of nesting beaches due to coastal erosion and artificial lighting also affects their survival.
2. Overexploitation: Historically, green turtles were hunted for their meat, eggs, and shells, leading to significant population declines. Although some countries have implemented regulations and protections, illegal poaching and exploitation continue to pose threats to green turtle populations.
3. Bycatch: Green turtles often get caught unintentionally as bycatch in fishing gear, such as gillnets and longlines. The inability to escape these traps results in injuries, stress, and potential death for the turtles. Bycatch poses a serious threat to green turtles, affecting both adult and juvenile individuals.
4. Climate Change: Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change have several negative impacts on green turtles. Warmer waters can disrupt nesting patterns, lead to increased egg mortality, and alter their food sources and habitat conditions. Additionally, extreme weather events associated with climate change can destroy nests and nesting sites, further jeopardizing their populations.
5. Ocean Pollution: Green turtles face various forms of ocean pollution, including plastic ingestion, entanglement in marine debris, and exposure to toxic chemicals and pollutants. These threats can cause health problems, reduced feeding efficiency, and even death in some cases.
6. Disease: Green turtles are susceptible to several diseases, including the herpesvirus, fibropapillomatosis, and various bacterial infections. These diseases can affect their health, growth, and reproduction, contributing to population declines.
7. Limited Dispersal and Connectivity: Green turtles exhibit natal homing behavior, where they return to their birthplace to nest. However, habitat fragmentation and barriers can hinder their movement and reduce genetic diversity within populations. This limitation affects their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
8. Limited Genetic Diversity: Green turtles have experienced genetic bottlenecking due to historical overexploitation. This reduction in genetic variation can impact their resilience to environmental challenges and reduce their ability to adapt and survive.
Combining these factors, green sea turtles face significant threats to their survival. Conservation efforts, such as habitat protection, reducing bycatch, combating pollution, and promoting sustainable practices, are crucial to reversing their population declines and ensuring their long-term survival.