Healthy populations of sharks and turtles, therefore, are likely vital to restoring or maintaining seagrass ecosystem structure, function, and their value in supporting fisheries and as a carbon sink. Impacts of large turtle populations on seagrasses are reduced in the presence of intact shark populations. Experimental data from multiple ocean basins suggest that increasing turtle populations can negatively impact seagrasses, including triggering virtual ecosystem collapse. However, overfishing of large sharks, the primary green turtle predators, could facilitate turtle populations growing beyond historical sizes and trigger detrimental ecosystem impacts mirroring those on land when top predators were extirpated. Expanding turtle populations could improve seagrass ecosystem health by removing seagrass biomass and preventing of the formation of sediment anoxia. These trends could significantly impact critical ecosystem services provided by seagrass meadows on which turtles feed. 8Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USAĮfforts to conserve globally declining herbivorous green sea turtles have resulted in promising growth of some populations.7Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Beaufort, NC, USA (Retired).

6School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.5Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands.4Department of Conservation Services, Government of Bermuda, Flatts, Bermuda.3Oceans and Coasts Program, Nature Conservation Foundation, Karnataka, India.2Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CSIC), Blanes, Spain.1Marine Science Program, Department of Biological Sciences, School of the Environment, Arts and Society, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA.Christianen 5, Nachiket Kelkar 3, Sarah A. Heithaus 1, Teresa Alcoverro 2,3, Rohan Arthur 3, Derek A.

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