Turtles are the beloved favourite of many, but they are currently facing some serious challenges because of climate change. Climate change is damaging their nesting grounds and the gender of the eggs.
Sand temperature is starting to increase rapidly because of the rising heat, and this is more serious as it seems. According to National Ocean Service Research shows that if a turtle’s eggs incubate below 27.7° Celsius, the turtle hatchlings will be male. If the eggs incubate above 31° Celsius, however, the hatchlings will be female. In short climate change is making the eggs become female which damages their ability to reproduce.
As well as this, severe storms and cyclones are eroding nesting habitats of the turtles also flooding them at the same time. Bio one says that a Marine turtle egg in the middle of incubation can tolerate saltwater and freshwater flooding of up to 6 hours. Outside of this period or when flooding is longer, disruption of gas concentrations and osmotic gradients in the egg chamber (shell) can lead to baby turtle inside dying.
There is only one way to stop this it is to stop climate change, and this is something that requires the general public’s help.
By Alice Yr 9
Boston High School
Keep promoting messages like this, it is so important to read up on these issues and do as much as we can to help.