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Science 17 August 1984:
Vol. 225. no. 4663, pp. 739 - 741
DOI: 10.1126/science.225.4663.739
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Articles

Sex Ratio of Sea Turtles: Seasonal Changes

N. MROSOVSKY 1, SALLY R. HOPKINS-MURPHY 2, and JAMES I. RICHARDSON 3

1 Departments of Zoology and Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
2 South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, P.O. Box 12559, Charleston 29419
3 Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens 30601

Sex ratios of hatchling loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta taken from South Carolina and Georgia ranged from no females in nests laid in late May to 80 percent females in those laid in early July; the sex ratio decreased to 10 percent females in nests laid in early August. These seasonal changes are consistent with the role of temperature in directing sexual differentiation in various reptiles. The data have implications for understanding the demography of sea turtles and for their conservation.

Submitted on November 22, 1983
Accepted on May 18, 1984

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)