Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1254473
Saving Sea Turtles Upwell Helps Tr ack Underwater Giants B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D R IGHT NOW, IN EARLY JUNE, GIANT CREATURES LURK A MERE MILE OFF THE MONTEREY COAST. THESE LEVIATHANS CAN GROW UP TO 8 FEET LONG AND WEIGH 2,000 POUNDS. FOR PERSPECTIVE, A STEINWAY CONCERT GRAND PIANO TIPS THE SCALE AT 990 POUNDS; A HOLSTEIN DAIRY COW 1,500; AND THE CURB WEIGHT OF A CLASSIC 1970 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE IS 1,918. THESE HIGHLY ENDANGERED GENTLE GIANTS ARE KNOWN TO SCIENTISTS AS DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA; THE REST OF US CALL THEM PACIFIC LEATHERBACK TURTLES. A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION BASED IN MONTEREY IS DEDICATED TO TRACKING THE LEATHERBACK POPULATION WITH THE GOAL OF UNDER- STANDING THEIR BEHAVIOR AND POSSIBLY FENDING OFF THEIR IMPENDING EXTINCTION. UPWELL WAS FOUNDED IN 2017 BY SEASONED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHERS DR. GEORGE SHILLINGER AND DR. KRISTIN REED, WHO NOW SERVE AS UPWELL'S EXECUTIVE DIREC- TOR AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, RESPECTIVELY. THE NONPROFIT'S STATED MISSION IS "TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES BY REDUCING THREATS AT SEA, INCLUDING FISHERIES BYC ATCH, SHIP STRIKES, POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND OTHER DETRIMEN- TAL HUMAN ACTIVITIES." THAT'S A TALL ORDER, GIVEN THAT THE PACIFIC OCEAN ALONE COVERS AN AREA OF NEARLY 643 MILLION SQUARE MILES. SURE, LEATHERBACKS ARE LARGE, BUT STILL, THAT'S A LOT OF WATERY GROUND. LEATHERBACKS ARE THE LAST OF A CLASS OF REPTILES THAT HAVE PLIED EARTH'S OCEANS FOR MORE THAN 100 MILLION YEARS. THEY ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THEIR SHELL—OR "CARAPACE"— ISN'T SOLID LIKE THOSE OF MOST OF THEIR BRETHREN. IT'S SOFT AND, WELL, LEATHERY. "THESE TURTLES HAVE A SUITE OF ADAPTATIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO DO THINGS OTHER TURTLES CAN'T. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY CAN DIVE DEEPER THAN ANY OTHER IN SEARCH OF FOOD, UP TO 1,300 METERS [4,265 FEET]," SAYS SHILLINGER. "THE FLEXIBLE CARAPACE ALLOWS THEIR BODIES TO COMPRESS AT THE TREMENDOUS PRESSURE AT THOSE DEPTHS. THEY ARE ALSO 'ENDOTHERMAL,' MEANING THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR HUGE MASS THEY CAN REGU- LATE THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE. THAT'S AN ALMOST MAMMAL-LIKE TRAIT." C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 121