Embedded Files
FOLLOW ON FROM TURTLE MONITORING
FOLLOW ON FROM TURTLE MONITORING
Collect small samples of seaweed when out in the shallow waters - under adult supervision. Noting if turtles were seen feeding on the seaweeds or in numbers near the seaweeds collected. Pressing and drying the samples is simple to do - put your sample in a small field notebook, closed the pages, let it dry and that's all. Note also that some folks turn pressed algae into a art pieces - fun and attractive for display!
Seaweed sample collected by Alanna Smith (Te Ipukarea Society), June 2, 2025, from the shallows around Honeymoon Island.
George Balazs (visiitng Hawaiian Turtle Expert) has identified the sample as Hypnea. Recalling that Hypnea is a red limu (algae) well-known to be eaten by green turtles in many areas, including in Hawaii.
Gerald McCormack (Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust) The current Cook Islands database only has records of the red algae being present in Rarotonga. A voucher has been added under Hypnea saidana, listing it as Hypnea sp. Gerald has commented, it would be interesting to survey its abundance in that area and establish that those turtles are making extensive use of it. Hypnea saidana
Papa George is also involved in the STRETCH project- www.LoggerheadStretch.org He frequently travels to Japan for about 6 days to put satellite tags on juvenile loggerheads at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse