This article describes the efforts of one beach to preserve their remaining leatherback turtle populations. Sea turtles are especially susceptible to global warming. The rising oceans destroy nesting grounds, and rising temperatures destroys the delicate eggs. The resort town of Playa Grande has created a hatchery and a small force to protect the turtles, in an attempt to restore the eco-tourism the town has lost to global climate change.
The endangerment of sea turtles does not bode well for our oceans. Sea turtles have been around for millions of years. They have survived and adapted to the cyclic global climate before. The fact that not one, but all seven species of sea turtles are now endangered is a very bad sign. The turtles are a canary in the coalmine for our oceans, which are obviously in serious trouble.
An especially interesting aspect of this issue is the fact that the temperature of their eggs determines the gender of sea turtles. The higher the temperature, the more prevalent females are within a nest. If the temperature rises only two degrees, all of the eggs will be female, which is obviously a death sentence for the species. This is one example of the unpredictable effects of climate change. Everyone knew that rising oceans would destroy beaches, and damage turtle’s nesting grounds. But no one could have guessed that changing temperatures would create an imbalance between the sexes. Nature is impossible to predict.
http://www.blogger.com/www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/science/earth/14turtles.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=turtles%20costa%20rica&st=cse
Rosenthal, Elisabeth. "Turtles Are Casualties of Warming in Costa Rica." New York Times 13 Nov. 2009: A8. Print.
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I think it is amazing that all seven species are endangered. Last year in AP Biology we learned about how temperature and other factors could affect the sex of prenatal organisms, but this is the first instance I've heard of where this effect was widespread, not just an isolated incident. I liked the reference to Hot, Flat and Crowded, and I believe it is accurate; if this reaction is occurring due to the smaller changes that have taken place already, these turtles could serve as a precursor to the extinctions to come.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great example of the uncertainty of nature, and how we have to be so very careful in order to ensure our environment's health. The fact that a margin of only two degrees can determine if an entire species will die off or not really shows nature's fragility. These turtles have survived for millions of years, and still in our infant stages, the human race is managing to end their existence on this earth. It really is mind-boggling, and it makes me feel sick to my stomach.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to hear about turtles dying and all, and hopefully this will encourage more people to take an active role in protecting this and other endangered species. But in my opinion, turtles, stranded polar bears and disappearing rainforests are not what is ultimately going to cause a real shift in the collective global environmental conscience. if that shift occurs, it will be caused by direct effects of environmental degradation upon humans. Only once people believe that their lifestyle is threatened will they begin to truly, sincerely and on a universal scale begin to address the radical changes that must occur.
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