Sea Turtle

Mikalyn Trinca Colonel, 2020

Sea turtles are majestic creatures that really important for coastal marine ecosystems. Pacific Green Sea turtles like the one in my artwork live in seagrass beds and can be found grazing in shallow coral reef systems. Sea turtles eat algae which can play a critical role in regulating algae turf ecosystems. Unfortunately, all sea turtle species are endangered or critically endangered, due to poaching, black market sellers, and pollution. Plastic pollution is one the biggest contributors to sea turtle death as plastics can easily be mistaken for food and when eaten get stuck in their stomachs slowly killing them. Sea turtles aren't the only wildlife this occurs to which is why it is incredibly important to reduce plastic waste.