Context: A research identified various facts and information about the migratory species like Loggerhead turtles.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Questions based on species, their habitat and their behaviour in the ecosystem.
About Loggerhead Turtles
- Loggerhead turtle is a species of oceanic turtle found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.
- They are named loggerhead turtles for their large heads and powerful jaws that can crush their prey.
- Key characteristics:
- Reddish brown shell and large powerful jaws.
- Omnivorous.
- Temperature dependent sex determination: Warmer temperature produces females and cool temperature produces males.
- Threats:
- Low survival rate i.e., only 1 in 1000 hatchlings will survive to adulthood.
- Habitat destruction along with the bycatching (accidental capture in fishing net).
- Conservation status:
- IUCN status: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
- Conservation efforts: Turtle excluder device in fishing gear, protection of breeding grounds and rescue of captivated turtles.
Findings of the research:
- Loggerhead turtles are known for their large migration routes and often return to feeding sites, even after seasonal journeys and displacements.
- The findings suggest that migratory species such as loggerhead turtles use the geomagnetic field (magnetic field of the Earth) as a map and compass, when navigating large distances.
- Studies suggest that most vertebrate species could have distinct tools (senses) of magnetoreception, but more research is needed to determine the inner workings of these mechanisms.