Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 149, May 2017, pp. 1-30. | Page 18

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My precious wife Ola Mostafa Khalaf snorkeling in the Celebes Sea waters of the Mataking
Island, Sabah, Malaysia. February 2015.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/19994563371/

Ecology and Behaviour
As one of the first sea turtle species studied, much of what is known of sea turtle
ecology comes from studies of green turtles. The ecology of Chelonia mydas
changes drastically with each stage of its life history. Newly emerged hatchlings
are carnivorous, pelagic organisms, part of the open ocean mini-nekton. In
contrast, immature juveniles and adults are commonly found in seagrass
meadows closer inshore as herbivorous grazers (Wikipedia).

Habitat
Green sea turtles move across three habitat types, depending on their life stage.
They lay eggs on beaches. Mature turtles spend most of their time in shallow,
coastal waters with lush seagrass beds. Adults frequent inshore bays, lagoons
and shoals with lush seagrass meadows. Entire generations often migrate
between one pair of feeding and nesting areas (Wikipedia).
Turtles spend most of their first five years in convergence zones within the bare
open ocean that surround them. These young turtles are rarely seen as they swim
in deep, pelagic waters. Green sea turtles typically swim at 2.5–3 km/h (1.6–
1.9 mph) (Wikipedia).
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 149 – May 2017