Extreme rainfall events and cooling of sea turtle clutches: Implications in the face of climate warming |
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Authors: | Jacques‐Olivier Laloë ,Jamie N. Tedeschi,David T. Booth,Ian Bell,Andy Dunstan,Richard D. Reina,Graeme C. Hays |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong Vic., Australia ; 2. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane Qld, Australia ; 3. Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Townsville Qld, Australia ; 4. Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships, Brisbane Qld, Australia ; 5. School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton Vic., Australia |
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Abstract: | Understanding how climate change impacts species and ecosystems is integral to conservation. When studying impacts of climate change, warming temperatures are a research focus, with much less attention given to extreme weather events and their impacts. Here, we show how localized, extreme rainfall events can have a major impact on a species that is endangered in many parts of its range. We report incubation temperatures from the world's largest green sea turtle rookery, during a breeding season when two extreme rainfall events occurred. Rainfall caused nest temperatures to drop suddenly and the maximum drop in temperature for each rain‐induced cooling averaged 3.6°C (n = 79 nests, min = 1.0°C, max = 7.4°C). Since green sea turtles have temperature‐dependent sex determination, with low incubation temperatures producing males, such major rainfall events may have a masculinization effect on primary sex ratios. Therefore, in some cases, extreme rainfall events may provide a “get‐out‐of‐jail‐free card” to avoid complete feminization of turtle populations as climate warming continues. |
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Keywords: | climate change green sea turtle hatching success incubation temperature marine turtles precipitation sex ratio |
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