The Impact of the Changing Environment on Florida’s Nesting Turtles

From the day they’re hatched, a sea turtle’s life is a struggle for survival. For every 1,000 sea turtle eggs laid, only about one turtle reaches adulthood due to natural predators and other obstacles. Those that do make it face numerous threats from humans. Now, climate change is exposing sea turtles to even greater existential threats. Sea level rise, and stronger storms will erode and destroy their beach habitats. Since the temperature of the beach sand that female sea turtles nest in influences the sex of their offspring during incubation, our warming climate may be driving sea turtles into extinction by creating a shortage of males, according to several studies. Join Dr. Jeanette Wyneken as she shares her research and tells us what the future holds for these beloved sea creatures.