How

does Rising Temperature Impact Sea Turtle Populations?

SALLY LEE

INRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Coral Bleaching, Important Food Source Changing Migration of the Sea Turtles Unbalanced Sex Ratio
Increased temperature of water caused by the Both male and female sea turtles migrate to The sea turtles are reptiles so they distinguish
Sea turtles, also known as marine turtles are green climate change had damaged corals since they the nesting ocean to bread, which is the area the gender of the hatchlings in a nest by the
with 7 extant species and they live in almost every are very sensitive in change of temperature. where they were born. However, the temperature of sand. For instance, the eggs in
ocean in the world. They migrate long distance away
increasing temperature of water is destroying the lower, cooler part of the nest will have male
to get foods to feed. However, the sea turtles are
the nesting area. Early experiments have hatchlings, and the eggs in upper, warmer part
now facing an extinction. The effects of global
proved that the sea have abilities to detect of the nest will have female hatchlings. As the
warming give huge damages on sea turtles and the
magnetic fields to hatch their eggs. This temperature of the ocean rises, the hatchlings
marine organisms. The global warming increases the
unique ability helps them to return to the will more likely to be females, which will not
temperature and this threatens the sea turtles in
same area later when they become adult sea make the balance population between male
different ways. Nearly all of the species of sea turtles
turtles to repeat the ancient nesting ritual. and female sea turtles. The sex ratio of the sea
are now endangered due to habitat destruction,
Due to the environmental issues like melting turtles will be unbalanced and this will give
damages in food sources, altered ocean currents,
polar ice caps and rising sea levels, the significant threats to the genetic diversity.
etc. There are reasons that have made sea turtle In 1982 to 1983, in Eastern Pacific ocean, coral
nesting beaches are gradually disappearing. Eventually, if there are too much gap between
populations to decrease including human activities bleaching was massively increasing and it caused
So, this makes the sea turtles to not able to the male and female sea turtles, it will give less
but, global warming is also a significant threat to the mortality rate to increase as well. At that time,
breed and reproduce. chance to breed and reproduce. So, the
them. The dramatic changes in the environment will scientists predicted that it will take decades for the
population of sea turtles will eventually
cause the extinction to many species in few decades. corals to recover. According to the World
Sea Turtle's Hatching Success decreases in the future.
The rising temperature in both ocean and sands are Resources Institute, they have researched that 0.5

disturbing sea turtle populations to balance the sex “The Caño Island experienced a 50-percent decline 0.45

ratio of hatchlings, migrate and importantly, they in live coral cover during the 1982-83 ENSO”. With Conclusion

Hatching Success
0.4

have less chance to get food sources from the coral these concerns, according to Earth Worth Institute, 0.35

they have stated that, “The leatherback sea turtle Further research is needed so that sea turtles
reefs. Warmer ocean and sands can affect the sea 0.3

population in the Pacific, once the stronghold of can be protected from the extinction. They are
turtle life in various ways and this will be more 0.25

the species, has declined by over 90% since 1980.” on the stage right before the extinction so,
investigated in the future to protect the sea turtles 0.2

Certainly, there is significant connection between more attention and care are needed. Global
from extinction. This poster will be investigating on 0.15

these two experiments. The Caño Island, which is warming is the main reason that have made the
how the rising temperature damages on the sea 0.1

located on the Pacific had lost 50 % of coral reefs temperature to rise. Temperature rising is
turtle populations. 0.05

and since then, the leatherback sea turtle 0

affecting the environments of where sea turtles
population has been decreasing over 90%. The
1980 2000 2020 2040 2060 2080 2100 2120 are living eventually, this will gradually decrease
significant loss of sea turtle populations might Year the population. This problem is not that simple
have a lot of different reasons but, the significant Moreover, ocean currents help sea turtles to to be suddenly resolved so, scientists need to
damages in coral reefs should be one of the travel and find prey. Warmer ocean affects the find ways to artificially reproduce more male
reasons. migratory species by changing the currents and sea turtles to balance the sex ratio of sea
influencing the distribution and the amount of turtles. Moreover, humans should pay more
prey species. This causes the the southerly attention to sea turtles so that they can be
species to be in northerly regions. more cautious of this issue.
Literature Cited
"Global Warming & Sea Turtles." SEE Turtles. Oceanic Society, n.d. Web. Acknowledgement
17 Oct. 2016.
Special thanks to the member of administration
"Information About Sea Turtles : Threats from Climate Change." Sea and ISB School Board for the funding. Furthermore,
Turtle Conservancy. Sea Turtle Conservancy, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
thank you to World Resources Institute and Earth
"Information About Sea Turtles: Threats to Sea Turtles." Sea Turtle Worth Institute for the statistical advices.
Conservancy. Sea Turtle Conservancy, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
Image Cited
"Coral Bleaching Hits 93% of Australia's Great Barrier Reef | The Japan "Sea Turtle." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. Further Information
Times." Japan Times RSS. Japan Times RSS, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. 2016. Please contact me if you have any questions
Whitty, Julia. "New Climate Threat to Critically Endangered Leatherback
Email Address : 18246@students.isb.ac.th
"Skip to Navigation Key West Aquarium Sea Turtle Conservation Tour." Key
West Aquarium. Key West Aquarium, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. Sea Turtles." Mother Jones. Mother Jones, 24 May 2012. Web. 20 Oct. Phone Call : 083 – XXX- XXXX
2016. Website address : www.seaturtle.org/welcome

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