Sea Turtle Research Just Got a Whole Lot More Stylish
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By Priya Felix
Sea turtles, one of marine life's cutest and most essential members of the ocean ecosystem, have unfortunately become a highly endangered species in recent years. Over the course of the past two centuries, sea turtle species have borne the brunt of human recklessness in the form of overexploitation for meat and shells as well as threat from the pollution of the ocean with plastics and other harmful materials. Many people do not realize that an enormous number of sea turtles are targeted by poachers, and those that manage to escape are at high risk for injury by way of plastic pollutants such as plastic straws or fishing gear that have been thrown into the ocean. Naturally, there has been a rapid decline in the population of all seven species of turtles that inhabit the sea, most notably the leatherback, which has seen a 90% population decline over the last 30 years.
The good news is that scientists and marine life activists have raised substantial awareness on the plight of sea turtles as of late, and the results are beginning to show, slowly but surely. For example, reusable straws made of materials such as metal and silicone have become increasingly popular and more widely used in recent years as the human demographic has become increasingly educated on the high threat that plastic straws pose for marine life in general.
Preventative action and raising awareness are but one aspect of a two-pronged plan to save the turtles, coupled with scientific research that may glean more information that will help protect the endangered species. Researchers at the University of Queensland are doing just that as they research the "diet of endangered sea turtles in hope of locating their foraging area to better protect the species."
Sea turtle with vest. (Casey Fung | University of Queensland)
To acquire the data that they needed, the researchers needed to obtain fecal samples from the six loggerhead sea turtles that were the subjects of the research. However, the issue was the difficulty of acquiring feces that was excreted by the turtles as it immediately dispersed into the water in their tanks. Initially, the team decided to place a funnel that could collect the sample on the turtles' tails, but this method proved ineffective as it was challenging to keep the funnels in place.
After some brainstorming with Dr. Kathy Towsend of the UQ Moreton Bay Research Staff, Owen Coffee, a Ph.D. student from the University of Queensland's School of Biological Sciences, came up with an incredibly efficient and cute solution–swimsuits for the sea turtles. Coffee used second-hand rash guards to create swimsuits for his sea turtle subjects, complete with a velcroed diaper for feces collection. The suits proved to be very comfortable for the turtles, allowing for full mobility and extremely effective in acquiring the needed sample. Best of all, of course, the sea turtles looked absolutely dashing in their new apparel before they were returned to Moreton Bay after contributing to the very science that will ensure the longevity of their lives as well as that of other sea turtles just like them.
Priya is a political writer for La Tonique. You can follow Priya on Twitter @priya_felix.