What is their role in the ecosystem?
Due to the wide range of areas that sea turtles move in their life they can contribute to the ecosystem by moving carbon to deeper ocean areas through the carbon cycle. This is done by the turtles eating plants and animals found reefs and other shallow waters, they take in carbon with their food, which can then by delivered to other areas of the ocean if they are eaten migrating. Sea turtles also control the population of certain plants and animals in reefs, preventing them from overwhelming the area.
What would happen is the Loggerhead went extinct?
If there were no more Loggerhead turtles (or sea turtles in general), many species of fish and plant that sea turtles would increase in population. These species would then overwhelm coral reefs and potentially destroy the ecosystem. Not to mention that the world would be without one it's most unique and fascinating creatures.
What impact will global warming have on Loggerhead turtles?
Global warming will have huge effects on sea turtles. Rising sea levels have already caused sea turtles to lose nesting habitat on beaches. An increase in storms and extreme weather events can often destroy nesting areas. Warming temperatures can heat sand, causing decreased hatching rates, or even complete nest failure. Ocean currents are used by sea turtles to help travel and find prey, warming sea temperatures alter these currents, preventing sea turtles from migrating to the correct place. Global warming also dramatically affects coral reefs through coral bleaching, therefore destroying sea turtle habitat.