Hot Chicks, Cool Dudes

Blog Post By: Sarah Glover, Sea Turtle Intern

Loggerhead sea turtles are the primary species that nests here at Edisto Beach State Park. Since their nesting season begins in May and continues throughout the summer, the temperature can change quite a bit while the eggs are incubating. As the season moves along, the air and sand temperature increase. However, it can also fluctuate depending on the weather. Interestingly enough, the temperature of the sand actually affects the sex of the hatchlings. If the sand is 85°F or higher, the eggs are more likely to be female, while sand that is less than 85°F tends to produce more male turtles. In other words, “hot chicks, cool dudes.”

​Eggs that are laid early in the season tend to experience cooler temperatures and, therefore, are likely to produce more males. This is also true of nests that experience more wash overs. This year, sand temperature loggers have been installed all along the state park beach for the first time. Some are up in the dunes, while others are farther down near the spring high tide line. These loggers will provide us with information about the temperature of the sand – how it changes throughout the nesting season and how it differs between the higher and lower areas. This information will allow us to see how location and fluctuations in the sand temperature affect the nests that are located in the areas around them.