Jessica (UR) - Climate Change and its Effect on Sea Turtle Populations

Sea Turtle Eggs

Did you know that the sex of a sea turtle is not predetermined by genetics?
The sex of a sea turtle is determined by the temperature in which its egg is incubated.  The warmer the nest, the result is generally female. The cooler the nest, the result is generally male. If the temperature is a happy medium, you will get a good mix of both male and female.
Here are some more fun facts about sea turtles!


We are all worried about climate change. Well, at least I know that I am. We think about how we are leaving our future planet for our children, grand-children, and great grand-children. Unless you live in a beach area, you don't often think of the effects that the climate change is going to have on the oceans and the life that lives in and around it. Here in Florida, it's what I think about.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) is based in Gainesville Florida. They are dedicated to the research and conservation of sea turtles within the Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. They were founded in 1959 by Dr. Archie Carr.

Dr. Archie Carr

Now, if you live in this area of Florida and are into any for of Marine Science, you have most likely heard of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. Dr. Carr was the foremost expert on sea turtles. His mission was to save sea turtles from extinction by using science.

There is not one species of sea turtle that is not being affected by climate change. Climate change and global warming are different. Climate change is the fluctuations in the weather around us. Global warming is the  steady increase in global temperature. This is causing the polar ice caps to melt, which in turn causes the sea levels to rise.

Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Hatchlings

Rising sea levels poses threats to these newborn, baby sea turtles. Sea turtles "imprint" on the beach where they are born. It is stored in there memory, so when it is time for the females to nest, they go back to where they are born. These beaches are disappearing as the ice caps are melting.

As the temperature is increasing over the years, the coral reef's have begun dying off. These corals are a major source of food for the sea turtles.

Since the sea turtle's sex is determined by the temperature of the nest, the warming that is occurring is also creating another problem. Not enough males. The diverseness in the genetic population is decreasing.

Green (Chelonia mydas) Turtle

With the climate changing more every day, we also need to do our parts. The STC helps a lot during nesting season. They will dig up the nest and incubate the eggs. Once the eggs have hatched, they will release them back to the ocean.

Dr. Archie Carr made it his life's work to do everything he could to protect these beautiful creatures. I intend to do the same.




References:
Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Climate Change – Sea Turtle Conservancy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2019, from https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-climate-change/

Seaturtle-World. (2014, January 4). Facts about Sea Turtles. Retrieved January 31, 2019, from https://www.seaturtle-world.com/facts-about-sea-turtles/