#conserveturtles

uncanny shell pattern. . . #turtlethursday #philippines #seaturtle #conserveturtles #beauty #dive #freediving https://www.instagram.com/p/Btkwm0mgJqi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14nuwg0j9oijh

During the Summer nesting season, sea turtles lay eggs on beaches and dunes. Around 100 eggs are laid in each nest, with each female turtle laying 3 to 7 nests during the season! Unfortunately, not all eggs hatch and not all baby turtles make it out of the nest to sea. These unhatched eggs and stranded hatchlings provide nutrients for beach and sand dune vegetation, nutrients that these environments would otherwise not have access to. Healthy vegetation is essential for the entire beach and dune ecosystem, which helps protect the beach from erosion!

Sea turtles love eating sea grass. For sea grass to remain healthy, it needs to be constantly kept short. Sea turtles are one of few animals that eat sea grass and are therefore vital to keeping the sea grass beds healthy and growing. Sea grass provide breeding grounds for fish and crustaceans. Without this bed, there would be a decline in all species dependent on the sea grass beds for survival and development of their young.