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Article: Raising awareness of sea turtle habitat.
- Article from:
- Endangered Species Update
- Article date:
- July 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Florida's natural coastal environments are being put under increasing pressure as the population in coastal communities grows and development encroaches on wildlife habitats. Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts provide vital nesting habitat for the threatened loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), while Florida's Atlantic coast provides vital nesting habitat for endangered green (Chelonia mydas) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles. Coastal areas also contain some of the most fragile ecosystems in Florida.
Certain forms of development on nesting beaches discourage female sea turtles from nesting and increase turtle hatchling mortality. To minimize ...