Question

The sex of sea turtle offspring is determined by the temperature of the sand during development. Temperature over 87° Fahrenheit will result in female offspring. Temperatures below 87° Fahrenheit will result in male offspring. Scientists are concerned about the effects of climate change on sea turtle development. One of these effects is the warming of environments.
In 2-5 sentences, describe what change you'd expect to see in the distribution of sea turtle traits over time, if any. Explain whether it would be caused by a genetic adaptation, a mutation, or the environment.

Answer 1

As sand temperatures rise, the population sex ratio will become increasingly skewed toward females, producing far more female hatchlings over time. This change is caused by the environment (temperature-dependent sex determination), not by new mutations or an immediate genetic adaptation. Over much longer timescales, selection or behavioral shifts (e.g., nesting in cooler microhabitats) could lead to genetic changes, but the immediate effect is environmental.