An application of finite element analysis predicts unique temperatures and fates for flatback sea turtle embryos.

ABSTRACT: Incubation temperatures within sea turtle nests are governed by complex abiotic and biotic interactions. Established methods for estimating these temperatures include deploying temperature loggers at standard nest depths or using models to predict sand temperature. While these approaches capture abiotic drivers of incubation temperatures, they often fail to fully account for biotic factors, including the heat produced by the metabolism of embryos, despite its potential impact on hatchling development and mortality. Here, we applied finite element analysis to predict incubation temperatures for all embryos in five flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) nests. To parameterise the models, we measured clutch size, nest depth, temperatures at several locations around nests, and the physical pr

SUBMITTER: Gammon M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12745931 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature