Marine Wildlife

Marine Turtle Nest Incubation Temperature and Welfare

Climate change is affecting sea turtle nest incubation temperatures, with implications for sex ratios, hatchling welfare, and population viability.

Key Facts

Sea turtle sex determination is temperature-dependent during incubation
Rising sand temperatures are producing increasingly female-skewed hatchling populations
Very high incubation temperatures increase hatchling mortality and deformity rates
Shading and water application have been used experimentally to cool nests
Populations are facing feminisation of up to 99% in some nesting beaches

Welfare Considerations

Rising incubation temperatures create a cascade of welfare and conservation harms for sea turtles. Higher temperatures increase mortality and physical abnormalities in developing embryos and hatchlings. The extreme feminisation of populations threatens reproductive viability. Active nest management including shading and beach planting represents a welfare intervention as well as a conservation tool.

What You Can Do

Support sea turtle nest monitoring and active nest management programmes
Advocate for beach conservation strategies that reduce sand temperature at nesting beaches
Donate to organisations working on climate adaptation for sea turtle nesting populations