Abstract The influence of environmental conditions during sea turtle egg development makes the ongoing threat of climate change particularly concerning. The nest environment greatly influences several aspects of sea turtle hatchling biology, including developmental rate and sexual differentiation. Various studies examine the effectiveness of watering nests as a mitigation strategy for high temperatures and dry conditions but few have rigorously identified the impacts across multiple nesting seasons and weather conditions. This study experimentally examined the impact of increased moisture on loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) hatchling sex ratios and hatching success across three nesting seasons. Supplemental water was added to experimental treatments while control treatments received only ambient water as rainfall. Sand moisture and nest temperature were measured throughout incubation. Overall, watering nests lowered nest temperatures and increased nest sand moisture. Watered nests had significantly higher hatching success; however, nests that received the highest treatment amounts had similar hatching success as controls. After hatchlings emerged, nests were inventoried and a sample of hatchlings from each nest was collected and their sex was verified. Only nests watered with the highest water volume treatment produced significantly more males. Watering nests may mediate the effects of high temperatures and desiccation associated with climate change. However, as temperatures continue to increase, watering nests may not prove effective in mitigating for entirely female-producing beaches.

中文翻译：

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补充浇水对红蠵龟（Caretta caretta）巢穴和幼龟的影响

摘要 海龟卵发育过程中环境条件的影响使得气候变化的持续威胁尤其令人担忧。巢穴环境极大地影响了海龟孵化生物学的几个方面，包括发育速度和性别分化。各种研究检查了给巢穴浇水作为高温和干燥条件的缓解策略的有效性，但很少有人严格确定对多个筑巢季节和天气条件的影响。本研究通过实验检验了水分增加对红海龟 (Caretta caretta) 孵化性别比和三个筑巢季节孵化成功的影响。补充水被添加到实验处理中，而对照处理只接受环境水作为降雨。在整个孵化过程中测量沙子水分和巢穴温度。总的来说，给巢穴浇水会降低巢穴温度并增加巢穴沙子的水分。浇水的巢穴孵化成功率明显更高；然而，接受最高处理量的巢穴的孵化成功率与对照组相似。幼鸟出现后，对巢穴进行清点，并从每个巢穴中收集幼鸟样本并验证它们的性别。只有用最高水量处理浇水的巢穴才会产生明显更多的雄性。给巢穴浇水可以调节与气候变化相关的高温和干燥的影响。然而，随着气温持续升高，水巢可能无法有效缓解完全由女性生产的海滩。给巢穴浇水会降低巢穴温度并增加巢穴沙子的水分。浇水的巢穴孵化成功率明显更高；然而，接受最高处理量的巢穴的孵化成功率与对照组相似。幼鸟出现后，对巢穴进行清点，并从每个巢穴中收集幼鸟样本并验证它们的性别。只有用最高水量处理浇水的巢穴才会产生明显更多的雄性。给巢穴浇水可以调节与气候变化相关的高温和干燥的影响。然而，随着气温持续升高，水巢可能无法有效缓解完全由女性生产的海滩。给巢穴浇水会降低巢穴温度并增加巢穴沙子的水分。浇水的巢穴孵化成功率明显更高；然而，接受最高处理量的巢穴的孵化成功率与对照组相似。幼鸟出现后，对巢穴进行清点，并从每个巢穴中收集幼鸟样本并验证它们的性别。只有用最高水量处理浇水的巢穴才会产生明显更多的雄性。给巢穴浇水可以调节与气候变化相关的高温和干燥的影响。然而，随着气温持续升高，水巢可能无法有效缓解完全由女性生产的海滩。接受最高处理量的巢穴与对照组的孵化成功率相似。幼鸟出现后，对巢穴进行清点，并从每个巢穴中收集幼鸟样本并验证它们的性别。只有用最高水量处理浇水的巢穴才会产生明显更多的雄性。给巢穴浇水可以调节与气候变化相关的高温和干燥的影响。然而，随着气温持续升高，水巢可能无法有效缓解完全由女性生产的海滩。接受最高处理量的巢穴与对照组的孵化成功率相似。幼鸟出现后，对巢穴进行清点，并从每个巢穴中收集幼鸟样本并验证它们的性别。只有用最高水量处理浇水的巢穴才会产生明显更多的雄性。给巢穴浇水可以调节与气候变化相关的高温和干燥的影响。然而，随着气温持续升高，水巢可能无法有效缓解完全由女性生产的海滩。给巢穴浇水可以调节与气候变化相关的高温和干燥的影响。然而，随着气温持续升高，水巢可能无法有效缓解完全由女性生产的海滩。给巢穴浇水可以调节与气候变化相关的高温和干燥的影响。然而，随着气温持续升高，水巢可能无法有效缓解完全由女性生产的海滩。