99% of north GBR sea turtles now female thanks to global warming
- 6 years ago
GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA — Rising temperatures have caused a major downturn in male turtle populations in the northern Great Barrier Reef.
A new study, published in the journal Current Biology, has found that 99 percent of sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean biggest green sea turtle rookery are female. Researchers say this is due to warming global temperatures.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a sea turtle's sex is temperature dependent. Males are born at around 27.7 degrees centigrade, while females are born at around 31 degrees centigrade.
According to National Geographic, an area further south holds a ratio of two females to one male sea turtle. Worldwide is around 3 to 1, reports National Geographic, citing research looking at 75 rookeries worldwide.
A new study, published in the journal Current Biology, has found that 99 percent of sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean biggest green sea turtle rookery are female. Researchers say this is due to warming global temperatures.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a sea turtle's sex is temperature dependent. Males are born at around 27.7 degrees centigrade, while females are born at around 31 degrees centigrade.
According to National Geographic, an area further south holds a ratio of two females to one male sea turtle. Worldwide is around 3 to 1, reports National Geographic, citing research looking at 75 rookeries worldwide.