These turtles which hatched on the beach in Broward County are being studied by Florida Atlantic University researchers. They say the beach temperatures determine their sex. Hot temperatures produce more females. Cooler temperatures more males. “Think hot girls, cool dudes,” one researcher 👩🔬 joked. Lately there’ve been a lot more hot girls than cool dudes. What does this say about our environment and the future of the turtle population? This is what they’re trying to learn through their research. These turtles will eventually be transported across the highway and released into the ocean.
This is Morgan. If you look closely you can see epoxy on her shell. To which a weight was attached until about 10 minutes before I snapped this photo. The weight broke loose and that’s not a good thing for Morgan because she needs the weight to submerge sufficiently to get to the bottom of the tank to eat her meals. She can’t without the weight because of injuries she sustained at sea in a collision with a boat’s propeller. Tomorrow they will try to trap her in a cage and reattach the weight. Morgan won’t ever be reintroduced to the Atlantic because without her human friends she can’t survive.
These tortoises don’t like it but everyday for 10 minutes they are placed in these containers to rehydrate. Tortoises live on land but they often forget, as do many humans, to properly rehydrate. The volunteer making them set in the water says in the years he’s been doing this they always try to get out. But just like humans, sometimes someone has to decide what’s best for you.
Also on the grounds of Gumbo Limbo one finds the Coastal Hardwood Hammock Boardwalk which takes you through the natural habitat that predates the condominiums of Boca Raton.
All photos copyright Gary Baumgarten
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You always give out the best info
Fascinating information! Thank you, Gary!