embyonic development of the loggerhead seaturtle

The most significant relationship was between mortality and the percent of time embryos were exposed to temperatures above 34 ☌. Elevated nest temperatures increased embryonic mortality, but no developmental stage had higher mortality rates when exposed to any specific elevated temperatures compared to embryos that had not been exposed to that temperature. The point of embryonic death was compared to the nest temperatures during that stage of the incubation period to determine if death corresponded to specific periods of elevated temperatures. The eggs were dissected and the developmental stage at embryonic death was determined. All unhatched eggs were collected from these nests following hatchling emergence. Temperature dataloggers recorded nest temperature in the approximate center of loggerhead and green nests laid on the Boca Raton, Florida beach during the 20 nesting seasons. The purpose of this research was to determine if there are differences in vulnerability to elevated temperatures across different stages of embryonic development and between loggerhead ( Caretta caretta) and green ( Chelonia mydas) sea turtles. If temperatures in the nest increase above a thermal tolerance limit, then embryonic mortality may increase.

Higher incubation temperatures influence many aspects of sea turtle development including sex determination and incubation length, but also survival. As climate change continues, sea turtle nests will be increasingly exposed to elevated incubation temperatures.

Embyonic development of the loggerhead seaturtle