Local climate determines size of sea turtle hatchlings

Baby sea turtles respond even more to fluctuating precipitation than to changes in air temperature during their development in the egg. The effects of precipitation differ depending on the species - or even the population. In this study, researchers found that rainfall outweighs the total impact of a rise in temperature since it cools the surface of the beach and increases the availability of water needed for development inside the egg, making precipitation a better predictor of body size than ambient temperature, although hatchlings of loggerhead and green turtles respond differently: If loggerhead turtle nests are subject to heavier than average rainfall, the hatchlings will not grow to their usual size, although they will reach a greater weight. ...