Hundreds of turtles killed by microalgae in El Salvador
November 11, 2017
The decomposing bodies of some 300 sea turtles were found off El Salvador's coast, raising questions about how they could die so quickly. Now scientists have found out why. The culprit? A tropical storm and microalgae.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J.Orellana
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Hundreds of sea turtles found floating dead in the waters off El Salvador were killed after eating microalgae, scientists said on Friday.
Between 300 and 400 decomposing sea turtle bodies washed up in Jiquilisco Bay around November 1, prompting biologists with the University of El Salvador and experts with the Environment Ministry (MARN) to investigate the case.
Officials said during a press conference that the creatures were poisoned by "saxitoxins," or potent neurotoxins that lead to paralysis, linked to a so-called red tide algal bloom.
They noted that the microalgae mainly affected the liver and intestines of the turtles, but the total number of deaths remains unclear.
The scientists and ministry experts said that the surge of microalgae was caused by Tropical Storm Selma, which hit El Salvador at the end of October.
The wind pressure caused by the storm agitated the seabed, raising sediment that caused a rapid expansion of the toxic microalgae.
The Environment Ministry also noted that the turtles could have died elsewhere and then been carried by ocean currents to Jiquilisco Bay.
rs/rc (dpa, EFE)
Rough start to life for the loggerhead sea turtle
This species is considered vulnerable in the Mediterranean, in part because its breeding process is infrequent and precarious. So it doesn't help when people build bars adjacent to nesting areas.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/S. Elcin
A loggerhead's life
This sea turtle spends most of its life in saltwater and estuarine habitats, with females briefly coming ashore to lay eggs.
Image: cc by ukanda 2.0
Making landfall
Loggerhead turtles are amazing creatures - but the are also vulnerable, in part because they only lay eggs once every two to three years.
Image: Imago/Nature Picture Library
Back to the sea
After they lay their eggs, the female turtles return to the water.
While they are incubating, the eggs are vulnerable to predators and human incursion.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/S. Elcin
New life
If the egg survives the incubation period, a baby loggerhead is born.
Image: Imago/Nature Picture Library
Dangerous journey
The baby turtle must then make a treacherous journey to the sea, surviving predators along the way. Loud noises from human activity can cause them to get lost.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Katia Christodoulou
Almost there
A large number of hatchlings die during the journey to the sea. Those that reach the water can grow to be adults - if they don't starve in their first days.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/S. Elcin
Facing threats
Also as adults, loggerheads face numerous threats in the sea. This loggerhead has been fitted with a prosthetic titanium beak after being mutilated in a boating collision.
