Climate Change
Warm Temperatures Correlated With Climate Change is Endangering the Lives of Sea Turtles
Climate change is another reason sea turtles are endangered. When the temperature gets warmer, there will be less reproduction of sea turtles. In the article “Sea Turtles” by Bennett, she mentions, “Warmer temperatures associated with climate change may cause the production of too many female sea turtles and not enough males. The species undergoes temperature-dependent sex determination because they do not possess X and Y chromosomes.” As a result of climate change, warmer temperatures produce more females. Sea turtles rely on cooler temperatures, so that they can produce males. If there are not enough male sea turtles to breed with female ones, there will be less of these marine reptiles inhabiting the world.
When Warm Temperatures Drops it Impacts Sea Turtles
Also, sea turtles are affected by cold-stunning. According to NOAA Fisheries, “Cold-stunning is a condition in which sea turtles become very weak and inactive from exposure to cold temperatures.” It is like hypothermia, a condition that humans get when their body temperatures drop when exposed to cold weather. When sea turtles become cold-stunned, they become “disoriented and unable to migrate to warmer waters” (Kelly & Racey). If sea turtles are still floating in freezing waters and are not being rescued, they could develop serious health problems. These included shock, lethargy, low heart rate, poor circulation, pneumonia, compromised immune system, and organ damage. Cold-stunning can even cause death, decreasing the population of sea turtles (NOAA Fisheries). On that account, climate change is another reason sea turtles are endangered and are at risk of extinction (NOAA Fisheries).
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