Green turtles: only females are born, the fault of the rise in temperatures

Green turtles living on the Great Barrier Reef are at risk. Rising temperatures are reducing the birth of male specimens. This in the long run would mean the disappearance of this species

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Green turtles living on the Great Barrier Reef are at risk. Rising temperatures are reducing the birth of male specimens. This in the long run would mean the disappearance of this species.

This was revealed by a new study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, California State University and WWF Australia.

According to the researchers, the tortoise population found in the Queensland area is made up of around 200.000 nesting females, one of the largest in the world. However, it could shrink dramatically due to the reduction in males.

Once again, rising temperatures linked to climate change could be the cause. In the case of turtles, the incubation temperature of the eggs determines their sex. And warmer nests mean more females too.

There are two genetically distinct populations of green sea turtles on the reef. One is found at the southern end and the other nests at the far north, mainly on Raine Island and Moulter Cay.

Scientists monitored green turtles in the Howick Islands, where both populations feed. Through a series of genetic tests, they identified the sex and nesting origin of the turtles.

Of the green turtles from the warmer northern beaches, 99,1% of the juveniles, 99,8% of the sub-adults and 86,8% of the adults were female. For turtles from the cold nesting beaches of the Great Barrier Reef, the percentage is more moderate (65% -69% of females).

The lead author of the research, Dr. Michael Jensen of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains that green sea turtle colonies on the Northern Great Barrier Reef have been spawning mostly females for more than 20 years.

WWF Australia CEO Dermot O'Gorman he said that concern over the umpteenth impact of climate change on the nation's most popular icon is great.

“Massif first coral bleaching, we now find that virtually no male green sea turtles are being born. These impacts show that the Great Barrier Reef is indeed at the forefront of climate change. Australia must adopt ambitious climate change goals that will save the reef and its unique creatures. Knowing that there are no more males among the young green turtles should sound an alarm bell, but all is not lost for this important population ”.

Knowing their status in depth is already a first step. Now it is up to action, not only by trying to minimize our impact on the planet to counter the global rise in temperatures but also by protecting these beautiful creatures.

In a short time, one possibility is the use of shade cloths on the beaches where they nest such as on Raine Island. In this way, it is possible to slightly lower the temperature of the nest and recreate the conditions suitable for the young males. But obviously that's not enough. We must take action to prevent further global warming.

READ also: