Climate change and marine turtles: recent advances and future directions

Type Article
Date 2021
Language English
Author(s) Patricio Ana R.1, 2, Hawkes Lucy A.3, Monsinjon Jonathan4, Godley Brendan J.2, Fuentes Mariana M. P. B.5
Affiliation(s) 1 : ISPA Inst Univ, MARE Marine & Environm Sci Ctr, P-1149041 Lisbon, Portugal.
2 : Univ Exeter, Coll Life & Environm Sci, Ctr Ecol & Conservat, Penryn TR10 9FE, England.
3 : Univ Exeter, Coll Life & Environm Sci, Hatherley Labs, Streatham Campus, Exeter EX4 4PS, Devon, England.
4 : Rhodes Univ, Dept Zool & Entomol, ZA-6139 Grahamstown, South Africa.
5 : Florida State Univ, Dept Earth Ocean & Atmospher Sci, Marine Turtle Res Ecol & Conservat Grp, Tallahassee, FL 32306 USA.
Source Endangered Species Research (1863-5407) (Inter-research), 2021 , Vol. 44 , P. 363-395
DOI 10.3354/esr01110
WOS© Times Cited 68
Keyword(s) Climate change, Marine turtles, Sea turtles, Sex ratio, Phenology, Sea level rise, Impact mitigation, Resilience
Abstract

Climate change is a threat to marine turtles that is expected to affect all of their life stages. To guide future research, we conducted a review of the most recent literature on this topic, highlighting knowledge gains and research gaps since a similar previous review in 2009. Most research has been focussed on the terrestrial life history phase, where expected impacts will range from habitat loss and decreased reproductive success to feminization of populations, but changes in reproductive periodicity, shifts in latitudinal ranges, and changes in foraging success are all expected in the marine life history phase. Models have been proposed to improve estimates of primary sex ratios, while technological advances promise a better understanding of how climate can influence different life stages and habitats. We suggest a number of research priorities for an improved understanding of how climate change may impact marine turtles, including: improved estimates of primary sex ratios, assessments of the implications of female-biased sex ratios and reduced male production, assessments of the variability in upper thermal limits of clutches, models of beach sediment movement under sea level rise, and assessments of impacts on foraging grounds. Lastly, we suggest that it is not yet possible to recommend manipulating aspects of turtle nesting ecology, as the evidence base with which to understand the results of such interventions is not robust enough, but that strategies for mitigation of stressors should be helpful, providing they consider the synergistic effects of climate change and other anthropogenic-induced threats to marine turtles, and focus on increasing resilience.

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