"Climate Change Threatens Green Turtles"
Discover the fascinating world of baby turtles and how climate change is impacting their survival in this eye-opening video. A recent study by the University of Exeter and the Center for Marine and Environmental Sciences in Portugal reveals alarming statistics - by 2100, up to 93% of green turtle hatchlings could be female due to rising temperatures. This research, focusing on Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, highlights the potential global implications of this phenomenon.
Join Rita Patricio from the University of Exeter as she discusses the challenges faced by green turtles, particularly at the Bijagós Archipelago, a critical nesting site in Africa. Learn how temperature fluctuations influence the sex of baby turtles and why increasing temperatures pose a significant threat to their survival.
Don't miss out on this important discussion about the future of green turtles and the urgent need to address climate change to protect these vulnerable creatures. Watch now to learn more about the impact of rising temperatures on the sex ratio of baby turtles and what can be done to ensure their survival.
Join Rita Patricio from the University of Exeter as she discusses the challenges faced by green turtles, particularly at the Bijagós Archipelago, a critical nesting site in Africa. Learn how temperature fluctuations influence the sex of baby turtles and why increasing temperatures pose a significant threat to their survival.
Don't miss out on this important discussion about the future of green turtles and the urgent need to address climate change to protect these vulnerable creatures. Watch now to learn more about the impact of rising temperatures on the sex ratio of baby turtles and what can be done to ensure their survival.
Transcript
00:00The sex of baby turtles is influenced by temperature, making them particularly vulnerable to climate
00:11change.
00:12A recent study indicates that by 2100, up to 93% of green turtle hatchlings could be
00:19female due to rising temperatures.
00:23This research, conducted by the University of Exeter and the Center for Marine and Environmental
00:28Sciences in Portugal, focuses on Guinea-Bissau and West Africa but suggests similar trends
00:34may be observed worldwide.
00:37The Bejegos Archipelago, a crucial nesting site for green turtles in Africa and a primary
00:42breeding ground in the South Atlantic, is at the heart of this study.
00:47Rita Patricio from the Center for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter's
00:52Pennant Campus in Cornwall highlights that green turtles will face significant challenges
00:56due to habitat loss and increasing temperatures.
01:01While cooler temperatures at the end of the nesting season and in shaded areas will still
01:05produce some male hatchlings, the overall rise in temperature is expected to result
01:10in a higher proportion of female hatchlings.
01:14By 2120, this could lead to a 32-64% increase in nesting females, but it will also cause
01:21higher egg mortality rates.
01:25As temperatures continue to climb, the survival of unattended turtles may become increasingly
01:30precarious.