Mon Prof Augmenté
Sand Temperature in a Turtle Nest
In a sea turtle nest, the temperature of the sand decides whether eggs become female or male. Eggs in the warm centre usually become female, while eggs in the cooler edges usually become male.
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Age 12: open this week
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In the picture
- A central egg in warm sand: it develops as female.
- An outer egg in cooler sand: it develops as male.
- The sunlit sand above the nest: it keeps the central eggs warmer.
- A hatchling sea turtle emerging from the sand: it has finished incubation and leaves the nest.
Examples
- A garden bed: soil in the sun is warmer than soil under a tree.
- A beach on a hot day: sand in the sun is warmer than sand in the shade.
Key takeaways
- Sand temperature during incubation determines a sea turtle’s sex.
- Warmer nests tend to produce more females; cooler nests tend to produce more males.
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Three questions on this lesson. It has left the free week, so its quiz is for subscribers.
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