Sea Turtles in Northern Cyprus Are Nesting Earlier

Sea turtles in Northern Cyprus have been laying their eggs earlier each year—by an average of 0.78 days annually since 1993. Scientists believe this is their way of adapting to climate change and rising temperatures.

SPOT Marine Life, which has been monitoring Alagadi Beach since 1992, recently shared the results of its long-term research.

Findings indicate that if sea turtles do not continue adjusting their nesting patterns in response to rising temperatures, their eggs may no longer hatch by the year 2100.

Experts believe that this shift in nesting behavior is a survival mechanism, allowing turtles to adapt to a warming planet. So far, they are managing to keep up. SPOT Marine Life stresses the importance of making nature more resilient to climate change—not just for wildlife but for humans as well.

"We have been studying the sea turtles that nest in our country since 1992, working to understand their lives and implementing conservation efforts to protect them. These creatures face numerous threats caused by human activity. However, one of the most urgent dangers today is climate change. Whether they can survive this rapidly intensifying challenge is a concern for the entire world," the organization said in a statement.

According to experts, sea turtles typically return to the beaches where they were born. Their gender is determined by temperature—warmer sand produces more females. If temperatures rise too much, the survival and development of hatchlings could be at serious risk.

Research also shows that green turtles lay their eggs 6.47 days earlier for every 1°C increase in sea temperature. More experienced females and those that lay larger clutches are more likely to nest earlier.