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The impacts of extreme El Niño events on sea turtle nesting populations

Author

Listed:
  • P. Santidrián Tomillo

    (The Leatherback Trust, Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station)

  • L. G. Fonseca

    (Latin American Sea Turtles)

  • M. Ward

    (Sea Turtles Forever)

  • N. Tankersley

    (Sea Turtles Forever)

  • N. J. Robinson

    (Cape Eleuthera Institute, Cape Eleuthera Island School)

  • C. M. Orrego

    (Ministry of Environment and Energy)

  • F. V. Paladino

    (The Leatherback Trust, Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station
    Purdue University)

  • V. S. Saba

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the predominant interannual pattern of climate variability in the world and may become extreme approximately once every 20 years. Climate-forced interannual variability in fecundity rates of long-lived species are well-studied, but the effect of extreme events is less clear. Here, we analyzed the effect of the extreme 2015–16 El Niño event on three long-lived sea turtle species in a region highly influenced by ENSO. The effect of this extreme event varied considerably among species. While reproductive success dramatically declined in leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), the reduction was only marginal in green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Nevertheless, the number of nesting green turtles decreased following the extreme El Niño event, likely due to decreased ocean productivity. We used global climate models to project an increase in the decadal occurrence of extreme events from ~ 0.7 events (beginning of twentieth century) to ~ 2.9 events per decade (end of twenty-first century). This resulted in a projected decline in the reproductive success of leatherback turtles (~ 19%), a milder decline in olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) (~ 7%), and no decline in green turtles (~ 1%). Extreme El Niño events can have a strong detrimental effect on East Pacific leatherback turtles, a population that is already critically endangered due to other anthropogenic impacts. Our results highlight the importance of conducting species-specific and site-specific analyses of climatic impacts on sea turtles.

Suggested Citation

  • P. Santidrián Tomillo & L. G. Fonseca & M. Ward & N. Tankersley & N. J. Robinson & C. M. Orrego & F. V. Paladino & V. S. Saba, 2020. "The impacts of extreme El Niño events on sea turtle nesting populations," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 163-176, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:159:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02658-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02658-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guojian Wang & Wenju Cai & Bolan Gan & Lixin Wu & Agus Santoso & Xiaopei Lin & Zhaohui Chen & Michael J. McPhaden, 2017. "Continued increase of extreme El Niño frequency long after 1.5 °C warming stabilization," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(8), pages 568-572, August.
    2. James R. Spotila & Richard D. Reina & Anthony C. Steyermark & Pamela T. Plotkin & Frank V. Paladino, 2000. "Pacific leatherback turtles face extinction," Nature, Nature, vol. 405(6786), pages 529-530, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. José Vindas-Picado & Adam Yaney-Keller & Laura St. Andrews & Aliki Panagopoulou & Pilar Santidrián Tomillo, 2020. "Effectiveness of shading to mitigate the impact of high temperature on sea turtle clutches considering the effect on primary sex ratios," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 1509-1521, December.
    2. L. Heredero Saura & L. Jáñez-Escalada & J. López Navas & K. Cordero & P. Santidrián Tomillo, 2022. "Nest-site selection influences offspring sex ratio in green turtles, a species with temperature-dependent sex determination," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 1-20, February.

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