Ocean First Institute

Our Mission

To advance the conservation of sharks and all ocean life through cutting-edge research, education, and community engagement that empowers people to protect our blue planet.

What We Do

Research
Goliath Grouper
Great White Sharks
Keys Shark Contaminants
Keys Shark Populations
Past Research
Education
Explorer Series
Free Online Courses
Plastic Pollution Monitoring
Free School Programs
Shark Field Course
Where We Work
Colorado
Florida Keys Lab
Florida Atlantic University

Sea Turtle Ecology

Support Ocean First Institute’s research and education initiatives by donating here.
Your support directly funds ocean research and helps to provide free educational materials to the public.
Dive in to investigate species of sea turtles and how they survive in the sea.

Sea turtles are fascinating creatures, roaming the oceans with grace and coming ashore to nest.

Identify and explore all seven living sea turtle species. Learn about the life history of these marine reptiles, their reproduction, both natural and anthropogenic (man-made) threats to their survival, and how they cope with the challenges they face everyday.

Sea Turtle Ecology will help you understand that:

 

  • Sea turtles descend from ancient animals; just seven species exist today.
  • Physical and behavioral characteristics aid sea turtle survival and reproduction.
  • Sea turtles are migratory animals that nest and feed all over the world.
  • Many causes contribute to the decline of sea turtles and efforts are underway to reduce negative impacts on sea turtle populations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jeanette Wyneken is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and the Director of the FAU Marine Science Lab. She received Ph.D. in biology from the University of Illinois. She has more than 30 years of experience studying the biology, conservation and health of reptiles with a particular emphasis on marine turtles.

Dr. Wyneken has a long history of successful collaborations with other biologists, educators, and veterinarians that resulted in nearly 90 peer-reviewed publications, 4 books, and 24 book chapters. Dr. Wyneken has mentored to graduation 23 Master of Science students, 5 undergraduate honors students and 4 Ph.D. students. She currently has 4 Ph.D. students, 1 M. Sci. student, 1 postdoctoral fellow, and 13 independent study students in her laboratory. She enjoys regularly teaching vertebrate development and morphology, reptile anatomy and amphibian and physiology, and the biology of sea turtles to university students as well as veterinarians with interests in exotic animals.

You can learn more about Dr. Wyneken and her research here.

 

Explore the entire course below. When you are finished with each section, close the window to return here.

Sea Turtle Species
Nests, Eggs, and Hatchlings
Swimming and Migration
Living in the Sea - Characteristics of the Sea Turtle
Threats and Conservation