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Relating climate change to the nesting phenology and nest environment of marine turtles

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Date Issued:
2013
Abstract/Description:
Ectotherms (including marine turtles) being especially sensitive to climate, are at risk to the accelerated rate of human-driven climate change. This study addresses two concerns associated with marine turtles and climate change (-) the relationship between the timing of marine turtle nesting and sea surface temperature; and the concern over the feminization of marine turtle populations due to rising sand temperatures. Previous studies of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) have documented the relationship between sea surface temperatures and nesting phenology. Earlier nesting behaviors in both species have been associated with warmer sea surface temperatures. Also, sex determination for marine turtles is temperature-dependent. Due to current sand temperatures, it is estimated that loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests along the Atlantic coast of Florida already produce over 89% female hatchlings. Using shade to reduce nest temperature and increase the proportion of male hatchlings is one option for mitigating the impacts of climate change on marine turtle sex ratios. In this study, a 21-year (1988-2008) dataset of hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, USVI was analyzed in a similar manner to previous studies. It was found that warmer sea surface temperatures were associated with longer nesting seasons and later median nesting dates. Additionally, a preliminary sand shading study was conducted in the first field season (2011) with a subsequent loggerhead nest shading study in the following field season (2012). Although hatching success was not significantly impacted, temperatures were significantly reduced in the majority of shaded nests. This practice may not be immediately applicable as a means of managing sex ratios, but it could be used to reverse the temperature effects of nest relocation.
Title: Relating climate change to the nesting phenology and nest environment of marine turtles.
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Name(s): Schwoerer, Monette, Author
VonHolle, Mary, Committee Chair
Weishampel, John, Committee Member
Mansfield, Katherine, Committee Member
, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2013
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Ectotherms (including marine turtles) being especially sensitive to climate, are at risk to the accelerated rate of human-driven climate change. This study addresses two concerns associated with marine turtles and climate change (-) the relationship between the timing of marine turtle nesting and sea surface temperature; and the concern over the feminization of marine turtle populations due to rising sand temperatures. Previous studies of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) have documented the relationship between sea surface temperatures and nesting phenology. Earlier nesting behaviors in both species have been associated with warmer sea surface temperatures. Also, sex determination for marine turtles is temperature-dependent. Due to current sand temperatures, it is estimated that loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests along the Atlantic coast of Florida already produce over 89% female hatchlings. Using shade to reduce nest temperature and increase the proportion of male hatchlings is one option for mitigating the impacts of climate change on marine turtle sex ratios. In this study, a 21-year (1988-2008) dataset of hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, USVI was analyzed in a similar manner to previous studies. It was found that warmer sea surface temperatures were associated with longer nesting seasons and later median nesting dates. Additionally, a preliminary sand shading study was conducted in the first field season (2011) with a subsequent loggerhead nest shading study in the following field season (2012). Although hatching success was not significantly impacted, temperatures were significantly reduced in the majority of shaded nests. This practice may not be immediately applicable as a means of managing sex ratios, but it could be used to reverse the temperature effects of nest relocation.
Identifier: CFE0005057 (IID), ucf:49973 (fedora)
Note(s): 2013-12-01
M.S.
Sciences, Biology
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): sea turtle -- climate change -- temperature-dependent sex determination -- phenology
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005057
Restrictions on Access: public 2013-12-15
Host Institution: UCF

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