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Effects of rising temperature on the viability of an important sea turtle rookery

Author

Listed:
  • Jacques-Olivier Laloë

    (Swansea University, Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP, UK)

  • Jacquie Cozens

    (SOS Tartarugas, Santa Maria)

  • Berta Renom

    (SOS Tartarugas, Santa Maria)

  • Albert Taxonera

    (SOS Tartarugas, Santa Maria)

  • Graeme C. Hays

    (Swansea University, Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
    Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University)

Abstract

A warming world poses challenges for species with temperature-dependent sex determination, including sea turtles, for which warmer incubation temperatures produce female hatchlings. We combined in situ sand temperature measurements with air temperature records since 1850 and predicted warming scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to derive 250-year time series of incubation temperatures, hatchling sex ratios, and operational sex ratios for one of the largest sea turtles rookeries globally (Cape Verde Islands, Atlantic). We estimate that light-coloured beaches currently produce 70.10% females whereas dark-coloured beaches produce 93.46% females. Despite increasingly female skewed sex ratios, entire feminization of this population is not imminent. Rising temperatures increase the number of breeding females and hence the natural rate of population growth. Predicting climate warming impacts across hatchlings, male–female breeding ratios and nesting numbers provides a holistic approach to assessing the conservation concerns for sea turtles in a warming world.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacques-Olivier Laloë & Jacquie Cozens & Berta Renom & Albert Taxonera & Graeme C. Hays, 2014. "Effects of rising temperature on the viability of an important sea turtle rookery," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(6), pages 513-518, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:4:y:2014:i:6:d:10.1038_nclimate2236
    DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2236
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    Cited by:

    1. Oguz Turkozan & Vasiliki Almpanidou & Can Yılmaz & Antonios D. Mazaris, 2021. "Extreme thermal conditions in sea turtle nests jeopardize reproductive output," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Marga L. Rivas & Nicole Esteban & Adolfo Marco, 2019. "Potential male leatherback hatchlings exhibit higher fitness which might balance sea turtle sex ratios in the face of climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Samir Martins & Elton Silva & Elena Abella & Nuno Santos Loureiro & Adolfo Marco, 2020. "Warmer incubation temperature influences sea turtle survival and nullifies the benefit of a female-biased sex ratio," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 689-704, November.
    4. Boyle, Maria & Schwanz, Lisa & Hone, Jim & Georges, Arthur, 2016. "Dispersal and climate warming determine range shift in model reptile populations," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 328(C), pages 34-43.

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