Why Turtles?
Turtles are Ancient Evolutionary Lineages.
The first turtles appear in the fossil record sometime in the Late Triassic, about 220 million years ago. Modern turtles had evolved by the early Jurassic, about 180 million years ago (see figure below).
Many turtles are at risk of extinction.
Turtles are among the most threatened vertebrate groups on Earth: over half the species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are considered vulnerable to extinction. Because of their “slow” reproductive cycle, many species of turtle are vulnerable to threats ranging from climate-driven habitat shifts to habitat fragmentation to overcollection.
Turtles embody North America’s functional wild landscapes.
Because turtles are long-lived (individuals of many species regularly survive to over 50 years in the wild), but relatively limited in their movements, freshwater turtles are uniquely tied to the landscapes in which they live. As such, turtles serve as optimal umbrella species for a wide range of other taxa of conservation concern. Landscapes that support particularly dense or diverse populations or communities of turtles driven by natural disturbance regimes should be priority conservation targets.
Turtles are familiar icons for conservation.
Turtles are integral to the creation stories of cultures worldwide, from Mesoamerica to India and China. In many areas of the Earth, turtles are revered for their longevity or perceived wisdom. Further, freshwater turtles can serve as familiar icons for land, habitat, biodiversity, and natural resource protection, and they offer opportunities for conversations about landscape conservation across cultural and language barriers.
Turtles are among the most threatened vertebrate groups on Earth: over half the species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are considered vulnerable to extinction. Because of their “slow” reproductive cycle, many species of turtle are vulnerable to threats ranging from climate-driven habitat shifts to habitat fragmentation to overcollection.
Turtles embody North America’s functional wild landscapes.
Because turtles are long-lived (individuals of many species regularly survive to over 50 years in the wild), but relatively limited in their movements, freshwater turtles are uniquely tied to the landscapes in which they live. As such, turtles serve as optimal umbrella species for a wide range of other taxa of conservation concern. Landscapes that support particularly dense or diverse populations or communities of turtles driven by natural disturbance regimes should be priority conservation targets.
Turtles are familiar icons for conservation.
Turtles are integral to the creation stories of cultures worldwide, from Mesoamerica to India and China. In many areas of the Earth, turtles are revered for their longevity or perceived wisdom. Further, freshwater turtles can serve as familiar icons for land, habitat, biodiversity, and natural resource protection, and they offer opportunities for conversations about landscape conservation across cultural and language barriers.