Rising Sea Temperatures Affect Green Turtle Nesting Behavior

As climate change accelerates, many species must adapt to shifting environmental conditions.

One of the most noticeable effects of rising temperatures is the alteration of biological timelines, also known as phenological changes.

According to Royal Society Publishing, a recent study has revealed that green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are responding to increasing sea surface temperatures by altering their nesting habits.

This discovery sheds light on how marine species may cope with climate change and the potential challenges they face in the future.

Changes in Nesting Behavior

Green turtles have shown a significant shift in their nesting patterns over the past three decades.

Researchers analyzed data from Alagadi Beach in North Cyprus and found that female turtles are nesting earlier than in previous years.

The study determined that for every one-degree Celsius increase in sea surface temperature, turtles advanced their nesting date by an average of 6.47 days.

This suggests that temperature plays a crucial role in dictating when turtles initiate their reproductive cycle.

The Role of Individual Plasticity

A key factor influencing this shift is individual plasticity—the ability of an organism to adjust its behavior or characteristics in response to environmental changes.

Female turtles exhibit variations in their nesting behavior based on previous breeding experiences and body size.

Experienced breeders tend to nest earlier than first-time breeders, and those that lay multiple clutches per season also show a tendency to start nesting sooner.

This adaptability helps ensure that their eggs develop under optimal conditions.

Population-Level Adaptations

While individual turtles demonstrate plasticity, population-level changes also contribute to shifts in nesting patterns.

As more first-time breeders join the nesting population, overall trends in nesting phenology may be influenced.

Additionally, the study found that turtle sizes have decreased over time, likely due to changes in population dynamics.

These shifts suggest that while turtles are adapting, their ability to fully keep pace with rising temperatures may be limited.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Despite their ability to adjust, green turtles face several challenges.

Their long generation times limit the speed of evolutionary adaptation, making them heavily reliant on behavioral plasticity to respond to climate change. Additionally, earlier nesting may not always be beneficial.

If environmental cues such as food availability or beach temperatures are not synchronized with nesting shifts, it could negatively impact hatching success.

Conclusion

This study provides valuable insight into how green turtles are adjusting to climate change.

While individual plasticity allows them to respond to temperature fluctuations, long-term survival will depend on their ability to maintain favorable nesting conditions.

Continued research and conservation efforts are essential to monitor these trends and ensure the protection of sea turtle populations in an increasingly warming world.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.