All species of marine turtles will be directly and indirectly affected by climatic change that is manifested in both ocean and nesting beach changes. Climate change is expected to affect turtles in multiple ways and at all life stages, from the loss of nesting beaches resulting from sea level rise and increased erosion to feminization of turtle populations because of elevated nest temperatures, changes in reproductive periodicity, shifts in latitudinal ranges, and decreased reproductive success. Impacts from climate change will vary geographically, temporally, and between species and populations. Our lab uses novel approaches to better understand and predict impacts of climate change on marine turtles, with a particular interest on the capacity of marine turtles to adapt to climate change.
IMPACTS AND ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF MARINE TURTLES TO CLIMATE CHANGE
SPECIFIC PROJECTS
- Mating systems as mechanisms for resilience of species with temperature-dependent sex determination under environmental change
- The effects of local climate on Caretta caretta hatchling output
- An integrated approach to assess the impacts of climate change on marine turtles in Brazil and inform their management
- What we know, what we don’t know, and what we need to know in relation to climate change and sea turtles in Florida
- Systematic priorities for the management of marine megafauna to increase their resilience to climate change
- Climate-mediated shifts in sea turtle nesting areas and future coastal development
- Vulnerability of the northern Great Barrier Reef green turtle population to climate change
PUBLICATIONS
COLLABORATORS
Will White, Oregon State University
Fundacao Pro Tamar
Jonathan Monsinjon