The environment plays an important role in influencing the reproductive cycles of sea turtles, making climate change shifts a growing concern for their future.
Loggerhead sea turtles have existed for close to 60 million years. During that time, many changes in climate have taken place, but none at the rate of today, according to Jeannette Wyneken of Florida Atlantic University.
Rising water levels and bigger storms are eroding the beach nesting grounds, while rising temperatures affect the sex of sea turtles. Sea turtles don’t have an X or Y chromosome, explains Wyneken, “They have a sex that’s defined during development by the incubation environment.”
Hotter weather causes the eggs to hatch more females than males.
Given that only about one in 7,000 turtles make it to adulthood due to the number of predators they encounter early in life, fewer males mean fewer mates in the future and fewer eggs.
Researchers are hopeful that sea turtles will weather current climate shifts as they have in the past, but concern is growing, according to Wyneken. “If it is so bad that they can’t compensate, that’s a pretty dire statement, not only for the turtles, but for us,” she said.
One solution is to add sand to the beach. However, sea turtles have a hard time digging in renourished beaches, according to NewsHour Science Reporter Nsikan Akpan. “Their nests are often misshapen, which can prevent hatchlings from being able to escape. And you just end up with a big trap,” Akpan said.
Warm up questions
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What is climate change?
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How is climate change affecting sea life?
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How might climate change affect sea turtles?
Critical thinking questions
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What should be done to protect the sea turtles against climate change?
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Since sea turtles are not a main source of food for humans, why should we care if they disappear?
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What are some effects of climate change on animals in your state?
