Sea Turtle Conservation

Sea turtles, iconic species in marine ecosystems, face multiple threats to their existence, including coastal development, plastic waste, oil pollution, and toxic chemicals contained in urban and agricultural runoff. However, climate change also poses several threats. In addition to threatening nesting sites because of rising sea levels, warming also affects the male-female ratio of hatching eggs, impacting reproductive success and long-term survival of the species. In this unit, you will consider three options (erecting shade tents over nesting sites; installing irrigation drip lines to nesting sites; or relocating nests to greater depths) for lowering nesting temperatures and maintaining a healthy sex ratio in hatchling turtles at Playa Grande, Costa Rica. After comparing the pros and cons of each of the three options, you will present your case for a solution that can have long-term impacts.