Climate change and its impact on sea turtles

Sea Turtles have ruled the oceans for over 200 million years now. They have survived ice ages and have adapted well to drastic climate changes over eons. This success story may not continue in years to come. Yes, the sea turtle population around the world is rapidly decreasing and has reached a dwindling stage. They are in the edge of extinction due to unacceptable modern climatic change caused by global warming.

Recent years have witnessed an abnormal decline in the nesting houses of sea turtles around the world particularly in Caribbean and Nicaraguan islands. The conservation efforts started lately after 1989 is increasingly facing hard challenges to raise sea turtle population. Climate changes have wrecked havoc in survival of sea turtle species like loggerheads, green sea turtle, leatherback, hawksbill sea turtle and Olive Ridleys.

Unlike other creatures where genes play a major role in sex determination, sea turtle’s sex determination is influenced by environment. This Environmental Sex Determination (ESD) is very rare and seen prominently in alligators and crocodiles other than turtles. Temperatures above 29.4C favor female sex while less temperature favor the growth of males .Global warming has resulted in increased temperatures on sea shores and ocean waters. The male – female sex ratio of sea turtles is already in a state of ecological imbalance that results in higher production of female sea turtles.

There are several reason quoted by scientists on the rapid decline of sea turtles owing to climate changes. Severe storms in the ocean greatly affect sea turtle habitat by disrupting the sea beds damaging their primary source of food. Hotter sands have greater impact on male sea turtles population fall. Alarming levels of rise in sea level have disrupted sea turtle population growth by evading beach nesting habitats. Ocean currents have changed over the years and sea turtles are forced to change their movements and change their nesting seasons. Moreover the uneven distribution of climatic patterns owing to global warming has resulted in huge drop in sea turtle population growth.

Sea turtle conservation has gained importance over years. Turning off Lights in the beach, reducing the amount of garbage and regular cleaning of beaches, being aware of nesting areas and restricting those areas from human disturbances, and reducing the amount of toxic chemicals from mixing into the sea are some ways that could contribute in the saving of sea turtles from extinction.