Happy WorldOceanDay! We spoke with some amazing NOAAFisheries scientists about the age of SeaTurtles. Click the link to read all about it! 🐢 NOAA WorldOceansDay
, accurately determining the ages of sea turtles isn’t an easy task. For one, marine biologists can use modern technology to find the age of a sea turtle — but this technology can only be used on deceased turtles.
Many factors can limit the age and lifespan of turtles, from environmental stressors to human activities like commercial fishing, marine debris and boating. Globally, one of the largest threats is the destruction of nesting and feeding habitats. These factors make it difficult to tell if a cause of death was natural or otherwise.of sea turtles in the world, you might think gathering information on them is a walk in the park. In actuality, the opposite is true.
Not to mention, sea turtle age is incredibly difficult to study in general, adds Avens. That's why researchers use indirect methods of aging like skeletochronology — a process similar to the dating of a tree via its rings. During this process, scientists take a of a deceased sea turtle’s humerus bone, remove the calcium and add a stain that highlights the growth rings in the bone's tissue.
Researchers can then view these samples under a microscope to determine the relationship between ring spacing and the size of the turtle as it grew. The caveat to this method, explains Avens, is that the estimated sea turtle age is only its minimum possible age.Though it is difficult to determine the exact age of sea turtles, it's clear that they do live for decades and that longevity can be influenced by several factors.
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