Optimism for mitigation of climate warming impacts for sea turtles through nest shading and relocation

Increasing incubation temperatures may threaten the viability of sea turtle populations. We explored opportunities for decreasing incubation temperatures at a Caribbean rookery with extreme female-biased hatchling production. To investigate the effect of artificial shading, temperatures were measure...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2018-12, Vol.8 (1), p.17625-8, Article 17625
Main Authors: Esteban, Nicole, Laloë, Jacques-Olivier, Kiggen, Fionne S. P. L., Ubels, Selma M., Becking, Leontine E., Meesters, Erik H., Berkel, Jessica, Hays, Graeme C., Christianen, Marjolijn J. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/158/2165
631/158/672
Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management
Aquatic reptiles
Aquatische Ecologie en Waterkwaliteitsbeheer
Beaches
Climate change
Conservation
Cotton
Ecology
Experiments
Global warming
Humanities and Social Sciences
IMARES Onderzoeksformatie
Leaves
Leerstoelgroep Aquatische ecologie en waterkwaliteitsbeheer
Leerstoelgroep Mariene dierecologie
Mariene Dierecologie
Marine Animal Ecology
multidisciplinary
Onderzoeksformatie
Relocation
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Sex ratio
Shading
WIAS
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Summary:Increasing incubation temperatures may threaten the viability of sea turtle populations. We explored opportunities for decreasing incubation temperatures at a Caribbean rookery with extreme female-biased hatchling production. To investigate the effect of artificial shading, temperatures were measured under simple materials (white sheet, white sand, palm leaves). To test natural drivers of incubation temperature, temperatures were measured at average nest depths with shading on two beaches. Results from a pilot experiment suggest the most effective material was palm leaves. Shading decreased temperatures by a mean of 0.60 °C (SE = 0.10 °C, N = 20). Variation between beaches averaged 1.88 °C (SE = 0.13 °C, N = 20). We used long-term rookery data combined with experimental data to estimate the effect on sex ratio: relocation and shading could shift ratios from current ranges (97–100% female) to 60–90% female. A conservation mitigation matrix summarises our evidence that artificial shading and nest relocation are effective, low-cost, low-technology conservation strategies to mitigate impacts of climate warming for sea turtles.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-35821-6