An unchecked increase in the global temperature might be the reason green colored turtles in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia might be close to the verge of extinction. Global warming has been causing the ocean temperatures to rise significantly which is marking a decrease in the number of male section of the green turtles. According to a survey done by the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in partnership with scientists from Australia belonging to the Department of Environment and Heritage protection came up with the observation that the last two decades have marked a rapid decline in the overall number of green male turtles in this region.
This observation has been derived from the fact that the cooler portions of the Reef presented a balanced percentage of green female turtles amidst 65 to 69. However, warmer sections near the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef present a staggering increase in female population amounting up to 87 to 99.8 percent of the total. This imbalance in numbers is due to the fact that incubation of eggs at warmer temperature results in higher number of females in comparison to the male. This is a direct result of the global climatic change.
Camryn Allen, a biological marine based researcher at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that the best temperature to maintain a balance between the male and female population of green turtles is around 29 degrees, i.e., 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Any increase or decrease in this precise temperature causes an increase in the female population or even death of the embryo. The average temperature of the Reef has increased greatly during the last twenty years causing an alarming increase in green turtle’s female population which might lead to the extinction of the males and ultimately the annihilation of the entire species.
The rapid increase in temperature isn’t just affecting the turtles but many other species relying on the reef as their habitat. Global warming is causing the coral reefs coverage to decline over the years. This is due to the coral bleaching factor which is caused by high temperatures of the ocean or sea water. The corals in this area do not get sufficient time to recover from the damage and thus resulting in a loss of habitat for many sea creatures that live near this area.
Global warming isn’t just a localized event affecting the Great Barrier Reef in the Australian continent. The harsh effect of an unchecked rise in temperature has been an issue far and wide over the blue planet from the Arctic to Antarctica. The damage being done to the only living planet by global warming is slowly turning irreversible which requires a major change in order to gain back the original stature and well-balanced temperature.
