Meeting Abstract
Sex in many reptiles is environmentally determined, primarily by temperature during incubation. For this reason, the thermal effects with climate changes are predicted to have profound effects on sex ratios. However, predictions of future thermal effects are largely based on proxies that vary greatly in their robustness. Historic weather data, sea surface temperatures, and sand temperatures have been used to estimate past or future nest and rookery sex ratios. Estimates of sex ratios from proxies are rarely verified so their predictive potential is questionable. Currently, climate change predictions do not include potential impacts of other changing environmental variables. Here we examine the effects of changing nest moisture (precipitation). Predictions by the various climate change models do not account for other developmental and morphological consequences that could impact current and future populations. We present a case study that examines the potential effects of temperature and precipitation changes on future populations. Experimental laboratory studies aid our understanding of previously under-appreciated environmental effects. We identify thermal and hydric effects on sea turtle development, sex determination, and morphology such as hatchling size and growth rate, which ultimately affect hatchling survival.
