Conservationists Race To Solve Mystery Of Long Island Turtle Die-Off
Published on by Ashantha Goonetilleke, Professor, Water/Environmental Engineering at Queensland University of Technology in Social
Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons and its many volunteers in Jamesport are trying to save as many Diamondback Terrapins as humanly possible
“It is just heartbreaking. To see them washing up is just sad. Nothing we can do, our hands are tied,” Karen Testa, Founder, Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons told CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan.
In a rare die-off, some 100 diamondbacks have washed ashore from Peconic Bay to Flanders with no signs of trauma.
Beachcomber sightings were first documented by SoutholdLOCAL.
Scientists from Stony Brook and Cornell said water samples from the bays showed concentrations of Saxitoxin producing algae that was ten times above normal. They blame it on too much nitrogen.
Pesticides from golf courses, lawns, farms, and septic systems may be too close to sensitive harbors and bays.
Shellfish consume the algae and following winter hibernation diamondbacks began dining on shellfish. The toxins may have literally paralyzed their muscles.
Necropsies are underway at the Riverhead Foundation and Department of Environmental Conservation with hopes of solving the mystery.
Source: CBS New York
Taxonomy
- Environment
- Pollution
- Conservation