Dataset Information

Terrestrial basking sea turtles are responding to spatio-temporal sea surface temperature patterns.

ABSTRACT: Naturalists as early as Darwin observed terrestrial basking in green turtles (Chelonia mydas), but the distribution and environmental influences of this behaviour are poorly understood. Here, we examined 6 years of daily basking surveys in Hawaii and compared them with the phenology of local sea surface temperatures (SST). Data and models indicated basking peaks when SST is coolest, and we found this timeline consistent with bone stress markings. Next, we assessed the decadal SST profiles for the 11 global green turtle populations. Basking generally occurs when winter SST falls below 23°C. From 1990 to 2014, the SST for these populations warmed an average 0.04°C yr(-1) (range 0.01-0.09°C yr(-1)); roughly three times the observed global average over this period. Owing to projected future warming at basking sites, we estimated terrestrial basking in green turtles may cease globally by 2100. To predict and manage for future climate change, we encourage a more detailed understanding for how climate influences organismal biology.

SUBMITTER: Van Houtan KS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4321145 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Terrestrial basking sea turtles are responding to spatio-temporal sea surface temperature patterns.

Van Houtan Kyle S KS Halley John M JM Marks Wendy W

Biology letters 20150101 1

Naturalists as early as Darwin observed terrestrial basking in green turtles (Chelonia mydas), but the distribution and environmental influences of this behaviour are poorly understood. Here, we examined 6 years of daily basking surveys in Hawaii and compared them with the phenology of local sea surface temperatures (SST). Data and models indicated basking peaks when SST is coolest, and we found this timeline consistent with bone stress markings. Next, we assessed the decadal SST profiles for th ...[more]

PMID: 25589483

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Project description:Land use change is the main driving force of global environmental change and is considered as most central to various debates on sustainable development. Even though a large volume of literature materials is available on land use/land cover change for many areas, very little work has been done on land use and its implications on land surface thermal characteristics over the Sokoto area of Nigeria, despite the strategic importance of the zone, including urbanization, increased population as well as the climate in the area, which is dominated by warm harmattan wind blowing Sahara dust inland. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the implications of urban growth on temporal variations of land surface temperature (LST) using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques over Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria between 1986 and 2016. The change detection of each land use class was carried out for each period using Landsat images obtained from the archives of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The results revealed that the area has undergone a drastic transformation where built-up area witnessed changes at 10.77%, farmland and vegetation increased at the rate of 0.72% and 2.15%, respectively, for the period of study (1986-2016). While bare soil and water body decreased at the rate of 0.56% and 1.11%, respectively, during the study period. This shows that there exists a transformation from bare surface (desert) to vegetated surface especially between years 2009 and 2016. The LST of Sokoto Metropolis was calculated from the satellite data, and the land surface temperature of each land use class was assessed for the study period. The maximum LST of Sokoto was 30.6°C, 32.8°C and 34.6°C for 1986, 1999 and 2016, respectively. This study has revealed the existence of a positive relationship between built-up area and LST over the area. This development might be as a result of anthropogenic activities through urban growth coupled with its potential impacts on urban climate. These are intensified by constant changes of the space, causing imbalance in the interactions between surface and atmosphere which may be extensively influenced or modified by various forms of land use.

Dataset Information

Terrestrial basking sea turtles are responding to spatio-temporal sea surface temperature patterns.

Publications

Terrestrial basking sea turtles are responding to spatio-temporal sea surface temperature patterns.

Similar Datasets

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