Eroding Beaches
Throughout the tropics and subtropics, rising ocean waters and increasingly destructive coastal storms— both a consequence of climate change— threaten the sandy beaches where sea turtles lay their eggs. The damage can be done in an instant. Powerful, stormfueled waves often reach far beyond the typical high-tide line, into the upper beach where sea turtles dig their nests and lay their eggs. These waves often cause significant erosion, and can wash away whole clutches of sea turtle eggs before they have the chance to hatch.
Even on a calm day, sea level rise is a threat. Already, the world’ s sandy beaches have begun to shrink. One recent study found that, if current trends continue, we could lose nearly half of our sandy beaches by the middle of this century. Slowing climate change could lessen this trend, perhaps safeguarding essential nesting beaches for future generations of sea turtles.
Empty Stomachs
The definition of an ecosystem is“ a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.” Every single one of these interacting organisms— as well as their environment— has the potential to be impacted by climate change. And when one part is affected, that impact can sometimes cascade through the entire ecosystem to affect several or many species.
One recent study points to exactly this scenario in Gabon, where trees are producing fewer fruits and the Critically Endangered African Forest Elephants are feeling the consequence. Between 1986 and 2018, the likelihood of an elephant finding ripe fruit dropped by 81 %. Another study found that this decline is linked to warming temperatures. The trees rely on nighttime temperatures of 66 ° F or lower to trigger flowering. Without this signal to flower, the trees produce no fruit. As a result, elephants must travel farther and look longer to find the fruits that make up an important part of their diet. Photographic evidence suggests the strain is having an impact; since 2018, the physical condition of the elephants in the study area has declined by 11 %.
above Green Sea Turtle | Shane Gross African Forest Elephant | Lydia May
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