Studying the Thermal Profile of Nesting Grounds to Infer Potential Impacts From Climate Change on Sea Turtles

Abstract To understand and monitor the impacts that projected increases in temperature may have on sea turtle reproductive output, it is necessary to first determine the current temperatures at sea turtle nesting grounds. Information on the current thermal profile at sea turtle nesting grounds provides baseline information to compare temperatures to and, if needed, temperatures to target with interventions (e.g., hatcheries) as climate change progresses. This chapter discusses several factors that need to be considered while monitoring temperature at sea turtle nesting grounds.