Female sea turtles lay their eggs, cover the nest with sand and then return to the ocean, leaving them to develop and hatch on their own.
Female sea turtles lay their eggs, cover the nest with sand and then return to the ocean, leaving them to develop and hatch on their own. From nest predators to rising temperatures, odds of survival are bleak. Once hatched and in the ocean, about one in 1,000 make it to adulthood.
Hatchling size matters. Larger hatchlings, which move faster, are more likely to survive because they spend less time on risky beach sands.
Research shows that both air and sand temperatures crucially impact sea turtle hatchlings. Cooler temperatures produce larger, heavier hatchlings with more males, while warmer temperatures accelerate hatching and offer predator protection. For endangered loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles, cooler and moister conditions result in stronger hatchlings. However, rising temperatures might shorten incubation periods, and erratic rainfall can disrupt growth, potentially affecting survival.
Balancing temperature and moisture is vital for the health of these vulnerable sea turtles. Too much moisture can be deadly for embryos.
Read more at Florida Atlantic University
Image: A loggerhead sea turtle hatchling crawls on a South Florida beach. (Credit: Jay Paredes, Florida Atlantic University)
