Global warming has been an alarming concern in the recent years but hardly anyone seems to be concerned. Now, the harsh effects of global warming have started impacting the green turtles of Great Barrier Reef present in the Australian continent. These green turtles are declining in number pertaining to the decreasing number of male turtles. When you take a look at the survey conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in association with the Australian scientists of the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, the recent decades have shown a staggering decline of the male gender of the green turtles.
As per the observations, the colder portions of the Reef showed a well-balanced percentage of both male and female green turtles which ranged around 65 to 69 percent for the female gender. But, a study of the warmer areas of the northern edge belonging to the Great Barrier Reef showed a significant increase in the female population which was around 87-99.8 percent of the total population of the green turtles. Now, the reason for this imbalance arises from the fact that turtles produce a higher number of female eggs when compared to that of the male.
This imbalance in the population is due to the unchecked increase of temperature caused by the global warming. A biological marine based researcher, Camryn Allen, at the NOAA stated that the ideal temperature maintains a balance between the production of male and female is somewhere close to 29 degrees. Anything more than this automatically causes a decline in the male gender while the eggs turn out female upon hatching which further declines the population of their male counterpart. In the last two decades, the temperature close to the reef has increased so much that the population of male green turtles has reached close to extinction followed by the death of female gender with no scope of a future generation.
Not only the turtles, but many other species around the Great Barrier Reef are being affected by the negative effects of global warming. The coral reefs are declining in number as a result of coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is a result of high ocean temperatures. The coral’s lack any time to recover from the damage which leads to the extinction of the species depending on the coral reefs for survival.
Global warming has been affecting all the parts of our blue planet. From oceans to forests, every section of the planet is being exposed to the harsh rising temperatures with rising sea level and dangerous weather conditions. Only a major change can put halt to the declining condition of the planet.