Olivia Richards
Environmental Science
12/9/12
Endangered Species Website Content
The Central American River Turtle
1) What role does your specie have in its ecosystem? How has it changed over
time?
The quickly disappearing Central American River Turtle, Dermatemys mawii,
plays an important role in its ecosystem, not only for its other aquatic species but
for humans too. This species of turtle inhabits limited bodies of water in Belize,
Guatemala, and Southern Mexico, more specifically Veracruz. Residing in the low
lands throughout southern Mexico, but in Guatemala and Belize find a home in
larger rivers and lakes. The turtle aids its ecosystem by cycling nutrients and
preserving the food web dynamics (Science News, 2012). To uphold the food webs
that are present in its ecosystem and surrounding humans, the turtles perform the
necessary tasks of controlling the insect populations and it also assists with much
needed seed dispersal to keep plant species thriving. “The importance of river
turtles is really underplayed…river turtles are long-lived, rely on the same water
resources we do, and can serve as indicators of water quality,” Said Amber Pitt, a
Clemson University postdoctoral research fellow who conducted research for a
study concerning the Central American River Turtle in 2004 for the University. To
maintain the water quality, the turtle scavenges for dead or weak animals before
they can decay and release harmful bacteria into the water (Freshwater Turtles,
2012). If the turtles are affected by bad water quality, then humans are also likely to
be affected. This is only one example why people should be working to help protect
the population of this indicator species. USED
2) What, if any, efforts are being made to preserve your species outside of its
natural habitat?
Fortunately, great masses of people have taken concern over the unique
freshwater turtle species that is the Central American River Turtle. One way this
species is unique is that it is the last representative of a turtle family that dates back
65 million years, the age of the dinosaurs (IUCN Species of the Day: Central American
River Turtle, 2011). Thankfully, countless organizations, zoos, reserves, and
researchers have staked their claim in the battle to preserve and protect this simply
amazing species. To kick-start the journey to saving this endangered species, The
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), working with the Turtle Conservation
Coalition, released a report in 2011 stating the 25 most endangered turtle species in
the world, the Central American River Turtle being one of them. This astonishing list
received ample attention, driving many other organizations to take action as well;
hopefully you will too!
On April 11 of 2012, The Wildlife Conservation Society announced a newly
thought up strategy that involves anyone from zoos to Global Conservation
Programs to ultimately prevent the extinction of at least half of the 25 turtle species
presented in the WCS report, mentioned above (Global Effort Launched to Save
Turtles from Extinction, 2012). With the fact that more than half of the world’s 330
freshwater turtle species are threatened with extinction, the WCS is teaming
together their four zoos and aquarium, its health program, and conservation field
program to take on the challenge (Global Effort Launched to Save Turtles from
Extinction, 2012). For the four top priority turtle species, including the Central
American River Turtle, the WCS is executing a threat mitigation program. This
specialized program will begin reintroduction and population supplementation
programs immediately focusing on reducing the number of turtles caught for the
commercial turtle trade. Since the Central American River Turtle is a K Strategist,
they don’t yield a large egg population during one hatching period. During one
hatching, the turtles produce anywhere from 6-20 eggs (Central American River
Turtle, 2012). Considering this low incubation rate, it lowers the probability of the
number of babies that actual survive to adulthood. It would be different for lets say
a Rat, which is an R Strategist, meaning it produces large numbers of eggs every
hatching period, leading to many more individuals surviving to adulthood. Due to
the low number of eggs, it is very hard for the turtle population to grow, as much as
it needs to grow to escape endangerment, by itself. Hopefully the program that the
WCS is producing will help the turtles drastic improve their population, before it’s
too late.
As well as the WCS, the Philadelphia Zoo is taking efforts to preserve this everdwindling species into its own hands. Currently the zoo holds two male and two
female turtles. One pair of turtles, was taken in by the zoo in 1993 from the US Fish
and Wildlife Service right after the turtles experienced seizures due to illegal
importation from Guatemala. One of the other turtles originated in Belize, also
experienced a seizure (Central American River Turtle, 2012). Causing such an
important and vulnerable species such pain, like seizures, is not worth the few
ounces of meat it would produce; I hope people realize this before its too late. USED
3) What else could/should be done in your opinion?
In my opinion, the work that the WCS and the Turtle Conservation Coalition,
which is made up of the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Turtle
Conservation Fund, Turtle Survival Alliance, Turtle Conservancy/Behler Chelonian
Center, Chelonian Research Center, Conservation International, and San Diego Zoo
Global, are doing is phenomenal and everyone one reading this should take into
account that they can help too! Please reference page _____ (to be filled in when we
finalize the tab names).
Most of the miraculous help that is being done is centered in the United States. In
order to really impact the main cause for the depletion of the population I think
organizations need to target the source countries themselves. The serious origin of
the depletion of this innocent reptile is poachers. Poachers desire the Central
American River Turtle for its meat, which is considered a delicacy and is used in
many religious ceremonies, such as during Easter, in Central American cultures
(Hailer, 2011). Currently, there has been an increase in commercial demand for the
meat, resulting in a price increase. Now 2.2 lbs. of this vulnerable animal’s meat goes
for desirable $100. In the mid 1900’s action was taken in Mexico when the country
realized the species needed more protection. The species of turtle was added to the
Mexican Red data List as endangered. By being added and listed as endangered, all
variations of harvest and utilization became illegal, yet most locals still didn’t oblige.
In the Wildlife Conservation Society’s new plan to alleviate turtle’s threats
worldwide, they promise to work closely with relevant governments, enabling them
to react quickly in nations that are centers of turtle diversity, such as Cambodia,
China, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Guatemala (where the
Central American River Turtle can be found) (Global Effort Launched to Save Turtles
from Extinction, 2012). Hopefully the WCS can express the future, most likely fatal,
of these wondrous turtles to their home countries before it’s too late.
3) From an environmental perspective, why should your animals be saved?
Discuss the local (water quality), domestic, and global (lower biodiversity)
impact if you animal becomes extinct.
The Central American River Turtle influences its environment immensely,
proving there to be many reasons why it should be saved. Within its ecosystem, the
treasured turtle aids with seed dispersal, regulation of the vegetation, control of the
insect populations, and maintenance of the water, keeping it clean for all other
organisms’ benefits, including humans (Freshwater Turtles, 2012). All of these
professions belonging to the River Turtle enhance the environment, so the everdecreasing population of turtles could eventually be harmful.
The turtle’s
imperative task of water regulation could affect not only its own ecosystem, but
also all of the communities surrounding. If the number of turtles diminishes then
its ability to keep the water quality high also goes down the drain. You see, the turtle
hunts weak animals and eats dead animals, keeping the amount of decaying
carcasses to a minimum. Ultimately this preserves the level of decaying matter to a
minimum in the rivers, without this process the excess decaying matter could
eventually start to produce harmful bacteria. That bacterium would almost
inevitably affect the other organisms living in and near the water, but also the
human population that depends on the creek. Most communities in Mexico, Belize,
and Guatemala rely on the river for not only water but also food. If the water
becomes unhealthy because of the lack of sanitation usually demonstrated by the
turtles, it could cause problems to the local peoples’ health. This is one key reason
to protect he Central American River Turtle Populations, the health and well being
of the humans and maybe other potentially endangered species living among the
turtles.
On a global standpoint, the depletion of the river turtle species would
decrease the earth’s overall biodiversity. Among the 330 freshwater turtles around
the world, almost half of them are threatened with extinction (Global Effort
Launched to Save Turtles from Extinction, 2012). If one organism, for example, the
Central American River Turtle, were to go extinct, then what’s stopping the
organisms that rely on that species from becoming threatened or extinct? An
example of a species that relies on the turtle that could potentially become
threatened if the turtle population continues to decrease is barnacles. It has been
reported that barnacles have taken a liking to the turtles’ shells (Lowry, 2001). Now
that the barnacles have adapted to living on the turtles’ shells, if the population of
turtles decreases drastically, the barnacles will run into trouble. Thankfully
barnacles are no where near distinction and can adapt easily to live somewhere else,
but other species aren’t so lucky. Once one species becomes extinct, it triggers a
chain reaction. Sooner or later two more species would become extinct, then four,
then six, continuing on forever in a domino effect. Of course we can stop, reverse, or
just slow this process by taking immediate action. By supporting and possibly taking
part in the Wildlife Conservation Society and other organizations that are taking a
step in preservation we can hopefully put a foot in the door of the ever-continuing
cycle of extinction.