Abstract Context Marine turtle eggs incubate in dynamic beaches, where they are vulnerable to both saltwater and freshwater flooding. Understanding the capacity for marine turtle eggs to tolerate flooding will aid management efforts to predict and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise and increases in coastal flooding. Aims Evaluate the interactive effects of flooding duration and incubation stage on the hatching success of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) eggs. Methods Groups of 20 eggs from multiple clutches were incubated in plastic containers in a beach hatchery. Eggs at six stages of incubation (0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 weeks post-oviposition) were excavated from the hatchery and exposed to saltwater or freshwater flooding for seven durations of time (0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 24 or 48 h). Containers of eggs were either submerged in a bucket of water or left outside of the bucket (control; no flooding) for their designated duration, allowed to drain, then reburied in the hatchery. Following hatchling emergence, the hatching success of each group of eggs was evaluated. Key results Freshly laid eggs and eggs on the verge of hatching exposed to any flooding and all eggs exposed to extended periods of flooding (24 and 48 h) suffered complete mortality. Eggs at 20–80% development exposed to short periods of flooding (1–6 h) maintained high hatching success that was statistically equivalent to control eggs, while eggs at 80% development exhibited significant decreases in hatching success. Conclusions Marine turtle eggs in the middle of incubation can tolerate saltwater and freshwater flooding for up to 6 h. Outside of this period or when flooding is longer, disruption of gas concentrations and osmotic gradients in the egg chamber can lead to embryonic mortality. These findings have reinforced concerns regarding the capacity for marine turtle populations to continue to function as rising sea levels and increases in coastal flooding alter the hydrology of nesting beaches. Implications As current and predicted climate change threatens the suitability of the incubation environment used by marine turtles, corrective actions to maximise hatching success need to be taken before the eggs are flooded.

中文翻译：

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洪水导致的蠵龟卵死亡

摘要背景海龟卵在充满活力的海滩中孵化，在那里它们容易受到咸水和淡水泛滥的影响。了解海龟卵耐受洪水的能力将有助于管理工作预测和减轻气候变化的影响，包括海平面上升和沿海洪水增加。目的 评估洪水持续时间和孵化阶段对蠵龟 (Caretta caretta) 卵孵化成功的交互影响。方法 在海滩孵化场的塑料容器中孵化来自多窝的 20 个鸡蛋。从孵化场挖出六个孵化阶段（产卵后 0、1、2、4、6 和 7 周）的鸡蛋，并暴露于盐水或淡水洪水中 7 个持续时间（0、1、2、3、6 、24 或 48 小时）。将鸡蛋容器浸入一桶水或留在桶外（控制；无浸水）一段指定的时间，排干水，然后重新埋入孵化场。孵化出雏后，评估每组蛋的孵化成功率。主要结果 新鲜产蛋和即将孵化的种蛋暴露在任何洪水中，所有暴露于长时间洪水（24 和 48 小时）的鸡蛋都完全死亡。处于 20-80% 发育期的鸡蛋暴露于短期洪水 (1-6 小时) 中保持较高的孵化成功率，在统计上与对照鸡蛋相当，而处于 80% 发育期的鸡蛋表现出孵化成功率的显着下降。结论 孵化过程中的海龟卵可以耐受海水和淡水淹没长达 6 小时。在此期间之外或当洪水时间更长时，卵室中气体浓度和渗透梯度的破坏会导致胚胎死亡。这些发现加剧了人们对海龟种群继续发挥作用的能力的担忧，因为海平面上升和沿海洪水的增加改变了筑巢海滩的水文。影响 由于当前和预测的气候变化威胁到海龟孵化环境的适宜性，因此需要在卵被淹没之前采取纠正措施以最大限度地提高孵化成功率。这些发现加剧了人们对海龟种群继续发挥作用的能力的担忧，因为海平面上升和沿海洪水的增加改变了筑巢海滩的水文。影响 由于当前和预测的气候变化威胁到海龟孵化环境的适宜性，因此需要在卵被淹没之前采取纠正措施以最大限度地提高孵化成功率。这些发现加剧了人们对海龟种群继续发挥作用的能力的担忧，因为海平面上升和沿海洪水的增加改变了筑巢海滩的水文。影响 由于当前和预测的气候变化威胁到海龟孵化环境的适宜性，因此需要在卵被淹没之前采取纠正措施以最大限度地提高孵化成功率。