"Climate" in the News

Climate change has impacted the green sea turtle population in the northern Great Barrier Reef in a peculiar way -- almost no male turtles hatched there recently. As it turns out, the sex of a sea turtle, like a multitude of reptiles, is determined by the temperature at which an egg is incubated. A few degrees celsius can mean the difference between hatching all males and all females. Scientists say that it is not a significant issue at the moment, as one male can breed with many females, but it will likely become a problem in the upcoming decades if the population is to see a complete feminization.

Kennedy, Merrit. “Climate Change Means ‘Virtually No Male Turtles’ Born in a Key Nesting Ground.” NPR.org, NPR, 10 Jan. 2018, www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/10/576807635/climate-change-means-virtually-no-male-turtles-born-in-a-key-nesting-ground. Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.