Rain or shine? How rainfall impacts size of sea turtle hatchlings

An internationally collaborative study delves into how fluctuating rainfall impacts the development of sea turtle hatchlings, revealing that it has a more profound effect than changes in air temperature. Regional weather influences incubation and hatchling development and the impact of rainfall varies between species. For loggerhead turtles, heavier rainfall results in hatchlings with smaller carapaces (shell) but greater weight, while green turtle hatchlings grow smaller carapaces without a change in body mass. Hatchling size matters. Larger hatchlings, which move faster, are more likely to survive because they spend less time on risky beach sands.