American scientists are facing a significant challenge as nearly every sea turtle born in Florida over the past four years has been female, a phenomenon attributed to rising temperatures!
According to The Guardian, this alarming trend has raised concerns among scientists that the precious sea turtle population may continue to decline due to the lack of males, compounded by the fact that high temperatures from climate change may persist for the foreseeable future.
A juvenile sea turtle at the Sea Turtle Hospital – (Photo: REUTERS)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains: “If a turtle’s eggs are incubated below 27 degrees Celsius, they will hatch as males. If incubated above 31 degrees Celsius, they will become females. Typically, the natural temperature fluctuations between these two extremes ensure that there are both males and females in the population. However, the past four summers in Florida have been the hottest on record.”
Warm sand also contributes to the “extinction” of male sea turtles from the egg stage, while data indicates that extreme heatwaves driven by the climate crisis are significantly warming sandy beaches around the world, according to CNN.
This agency warns that the ongoing climate change and rising temperatures could also lead to increased mortality rates among turtles. Similar situations may arise in other reptile species.
“You will see a significant decrease in their numbers because we lack genetic diversity. We do not have the necessary male-to-female ratio for successful breeding,” explains Melissa Rosales Rodriguez, a sea turtle caregiver at the Miami Sea Turtle Hospital.
The Sea Turtle Hospital is also dealing with numerous cases of fibropapillomatosis, a disease that causes turtle mortality characterized by cauliflower-like tumors throughout the body, including the eyes and mouth, and even within the internal organs.
