What causes climate change and what are its effects?
Climate change is caused by human activities such as the burning of coal, gas, and oil which release greenhouse gases.
Climate change is responsible for causing rising sea levels, melting glaciers, floods, etc. It is dangerous for both humans and animals. Sea turtles are one of the most affected animals by climate change. Let’s find out how.
How is climate change affecting sea turtles?
The gender of the sea turtles is decided in a unique manner. Female sea turtles bury their eggs in the sand on the sea shore. The sand's temperature (how hot or cold the sand is) determines whether a baby is male or female. When the eggs are kept at 27.7° Celsius, male sea turtles are born, whereas female sea turtles are born at 31.5° Celsius. Researchers have found that the sand is becoming hotter as temperatures are rising because of climate change. Due to this, 99% of sea turtles born in the last four years in Florida, United States, are female. Imagine if this goes on for a few years and there are no male sea turtles left at all. It would mean that the species would slowly die out and disappear from the planet because the female turtles will not be able to reproduce without the males. Even the gender of unborn crocodiles, alligators, etc. is decided by the temperature.
Oh! How do we stop this from happening?
Scientists are working hard to balance the number of male and female sea turtles. A group of researchers discovered that palm leaves could be used to provide shade to areas where eggs are laid.
Another group also suggested that eggs could be moved to a place where their temperature can be controlled.
Isn't it amazing how the gender of sea turtles is decided by the temperature? This discovery makes it even more important for us to help stop and even reverse climate change.
