Sea Turtles Under Threat

The individual sex of sea turtles is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are kept, prior to hatching. A new study by Dr Jacques-Oliver Laloë of Swansea's College of Science argues that warmer temperatures due to climate change could lead to higher numbers of females and increased nest failure.

The pivotal temperature is 29°C (84°F), at which both sexes are produced in equal proportion; above that temperature, mainly females are hatched. Within the context of climate change and warming sea temperatures, sea turtle populations will be more female-based, and although males can mate with more than one female, this could threaten population viability.