99% of sea turtles are born female in Florida and that’s not a good sign

On the beaches of Florida, scientists have found that all sea turtles born this summer are female! In question, global warming: sex is determined by the temperature when the egg is incubated. The problem has been going on for four years. Researchers fear for the species.

The phenomenon has been going on for four years now. On the beaches of Florida, the baby turtles turn out to be all female! Seven species of sea ​​turtles are currently concerned and have been listed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The reason: the global warming.

Just as for other species such as crocodiles, certain lizards or even fish, the sex of turtles is determined by the temperature prevailing at the time of incubation. Higher temperatures, as has been the case for some years, of course give females. For an equivalent sex ratio, an average temperature of 27.7°C is needed. But the warmingair decided otherwise and increases the temperature of the nesting sands.

A real danger for sea turtles

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this too low proportion of males could lead to the local extinction of thespecies which fortunately is not endemic from Florida. Nevertheless, this phenomenon does not only occur there. However, a large proportion of females remains less unfavorable than the opposite phenomenon: nests have often been observed with 90% females. Indeed, only a few males are actually needed in a population to fertilize the eggs. But without any males, as is almost the case in Florida, no fertilizationso no births.

Finally, this phenomenon points to new consequences of global warming that threaten the survival of the species. In Cape Verde, similar consequences have also been observed in 2020: when temperatures rise to more than 32°C instead of the usual 29°C, newborns are born smaller, and are more likely to die. being killed by crabs on their way to the ocean.