Mediterranean Warming Skews Loggerhead Hatchlings Female

Warming temperatures across the Mediterranean are changing loggerhead sea turtle nesting patterns, making hatchlings increasingly female and raising concerns about the turtles’ long-term ability to reproduce. At Turkey’s Iztuzu beach, researchers monitor nests as warmer sand and record-hot European waters signal broader climate pressures on coastal ecosystems. A study at Patara beach found about 70% of hatchlings were female, while other estimates put the share at 80% to 90% in some populations; temperatures above 30°C can also increase embryo deaths. Scientists say the turtles act as an early warning system, and their migration across national borders underscores the need for regional cooperation. Loggerheads are the mascot of COP31, which Turkey will host in Antalya, with marine conservation expected to be a focus.