I had decided I was not going to try to write a post a day because with the amount of time we have spent on Kauai there is less novelty in our daily experiences. I also am writing content for my other blogs. But, we immediately had a unique experience and I collected a couple of good images and a video.
We are a couple blocks away from Brennecke's and Poipu beaches. We have spent time on or near the beaches many times and I have photographed Green Sea turtles there before. However, that was taking photos of one or maybe two turtles at a time. Yesterday we saw eight. This number is far from the larger number that appear at times, but this was the most for us.
Turtles on popular beaches are typically roped off by volunteers because tourists can't resist getting close for photos and perhaps to say they have touched the animals. Volunteers who have been given some kind of training quickly set up boundaries and I suppose call in officials should the tourists not respond to warnings. I did have my camera with a telephoto lens, but the newer iPhones do a great job and in less than ideal light conditions automatically control some variables I would not know how to adjust for with my digital camera. You should be able to double click on the images for a better view.
From time to time. the life guard in the tower would use his bull horn to request that the tourist learn to use the zoom feature on their cameras so they could take photos from a greater difference.
This posts is a little short so I thought I should add a little more information to increase the educational value for those who read my posts. I try to learn about technology whenever I have the chance to lend some credibility to the other blogs and books that I write. It is good to have experience with what you recommend. You may have heard of ChatGPT the AI tool that has become very popular. Many educators are concerned because of the uncertainty of evaluating the writing assignments they require. To my knowledge, the tools that are used to check for plagiarism do not work because the content created by ChatGPT is original and not simply a concatenation of sources.
I did not write the following, but I did develop the prompts for the AI system. If this AI capability is new to you, this is the type of material it creates.
Provide several paragraphs of information about the green sea turtle found near Kauai
The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a species of sea turtle that is found in the waters near the island of Kauai in Hawaii. This turtle is one of the largest species of sea turtle, with adults reaching lengths of up to 3.9 feet and weighing up to 440 pounds.
The green sea turtle is named for the green color of its skin, which is caused by a thick layer of fat under its shell. The shell, or carapace, is typically a brown or olive color, and is smooth and rounded. The turtle's flippers are large and paddle-like, and its head is small in proportion to its body.
Green sea turtles are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world, and are known to migrate long distances between feeding and nesting sites. In Hawaii, the green sea turtle is known to feed on seagrasses and algae in the shallow waters around the islands. They are also known to feed on jellyfish and other invertebrates.
The green sea turtle is a protected species in Hawaii and is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is due to threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and hunting. Conservation efforts, such as beach and nesting site protection, have been implemented in an effort to protect and recover the population of green sea turtles.
Overall, the green sea turtle is an important part of the ecosystem near Kauai and is an important species to protect. It is important for people to be aware of their presence and to take steps to protect them and their habitat.
How many different kinds of sea turtles are there? Please include sources for this question.
There are seven different species of sea turtles. They are:
- Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
- Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus)
Source:
- "Sea Turtles" by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/sea-turtles)
- "Sea Turtles of the World" by Sea Turtle Conservancy (https://www.conserveturtles.org/sea-turtle-information/sea-turtles-world/)
It is worth noting that there are different ways that the taxonomy of sea turtles can be presented and some sources might group them differently. However, the above classification is widely recognized and used by marine conservation organizations such as NOAA and Sea Turtle Conservancy.
Are any of the sea turtles just listed considered endangered?
Yes, all of the seven species of sea turtles listed are considered to be threatened or endangered. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, the status of the different sea turtle species is as follows:
- Loggerhead sea turtle: Vulnerable
- Green sea turtle: Endangered
- Hawksbill sea turtle: Critically Endangered
- Olive ridley sea turtle: Vulnerable
- Kemp's ridley sea turtle: Critically Endangered
- Leatherback sea turtle: Vulnerable
- Flatback sea turtle: Data Deficient
It is worth noting that the classification of species on the IUCN Red List can change over time as new information becomes available. However, as of this knowledge cutoff, all of the sea turtle species listed are considered to be at risk of extinction due to various threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and over-harvesting of eggs and adults.
No comments:
Post a Comment