Should endangered sea turtles blame it on the rain?

Precipitation has an even bigger effect on sea turtle hatchling development than changes in air temperature, researchers have uncovered. Scientists already knew that air temperature plays a crucial role in sea turtle development—cooler temperatures produce more heavy turtles that are males, and warm temperatures cause hatching to speed up, offering predator protection. Scientists wondered about the effects of rainfall on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). In the study published in BMC Ecology and Evolution, the team studied the two species on 37 beaches and found that for loggerhead turtles, heavier rainfall means smaller shelled, but heavier hatchlings. For green turtles, more rain meant turtles with smaller carapaces and no change in body mass. The researchers said these effects are important to consider as climate change shifts rainfall patterns. “Analyzing local data from various nesting sites is crucial for understanding sea turtle nesting patterns,” said Jeanette Wyneken, a coauthor of the study and professor at Florida Atlantic University. “These local databases should be made more accessible and widely shared to improve our knowledge and support local conservation efforts.”

Read the study in BMC Ecology and Evolution.