The effects of warming on loggerhead turtle nesting counts
Global trends in marine turtle nesting numbers vary by region, influenced by environmental or anthropogenic factors. Our study investigates the potential role of past temperature fluctuations on these trends, particularly whether warmer beaches are linked to increased nesting due to higher female pr...
| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | conjunto de datos |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/394032 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/394032 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Climate change Biological sciences Caretta caretta Nesting grounds Trend analysis |
| Sumario: | Global trends in marine turtle nesting numbers vary by region, influenced by environmental or anthropogenic factors. Our study investigates the potential role of past temperature fluctuations on these trends, particularly whether warmer beaches are linked to increased nesting due to higher female production (since sea turtles have temperature-dependent sex determination). We selected the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) due to its wide distribution, strong philopatry, and vulnerability to environmental changes. We compiled nest counts per year on 35 globally significant rookeries, analysing trends at regional and individual beach levels. We compiled air (CHELSA) and land surface (MODIS) temperature datasets spanning the last four decades (1979-2023) for each location. To analyse temporal trends in nest counts and temperatures, we used generalised additive models and Mann-Kendall trend tests. Additionally, we correlated nest counts with lagged air temperature variables. We found significant warming at 33 nesting locations, 23 of which also showed significant increases in nest counts. Our results suggest that rising temperatures may be boosting nest numbers in regions of the Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean (sites in Cayman, Mexico, Brazil, Cyprus, and Turkey). Furthermore, while some regions temporarily benefit, continued warming could precipitate long-term population declines. This regional variability helps predict species responses to climate change, with the general global increase in nest counts already indicating short-term warming effects. Nesting count trends might reflect a combination of natural ecological phenomena, conservation efforts, and warming effects. Long-term studies are needed to assess global trends in the sex ratio of hatchlings and the extent to which feminisation is driving nest numbers. |
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