The Paper reporter Nan Boyi Intern Wu Yinan
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“As the planet’s climate changes, warmer temperatures may skew hatching conditions, even fatal, which will affect sea turtle species as well as other reptiles,” the US National Oceanic Administration said.
“It’s frightening that the past four summers in Florida have been the most The hottest summers.” She added, “Scientists studying turtle larvae and eggs have found no males, only females, in the past four years.”
The growing gender imbalance is causing concern among scientists, who fear it will eventually threaten the reproduction and survival of sea turtle populations.
And at the recently opened turtle hospital at the Miami City Zoo, turtle breeder Melissa Rosales Rodriguez told Reuters, “You’ve seen their numbers decline dramatically over the years because of their lack of genetic diversity… …We are not reaching the sex ratio required for successful reproduction.”
In addition to facing an increasing number of female turtles, the Turtle Hospital is currently working to address Turtle Fibromastoidoma. This is a potentially fatal disease in which tumors can form in the eyes, mouth or internal organs of diseased turtles. Zickelbach called for more turtle hospitals to open, saying “there’s a need across Florida.”
Responsible editor: Hu Zhenqing Photo editor: Zhang Tongze
