Question

the gender 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, nests will produce a progressively more female‑biased sex ratio (more hatchlings developing at >87°F become female). This shift is a direct environmental effect (temperature‑dependent sex determination), not an immediate result of mutation or genetic adaptation, though persistent warming could later drive selection for genetic changes (for example, altered nesting timing or site choice).