Cold-stunning explained

Cold-stunning, also known as hypothermic stunning, is a hypothermic reaction experienced by marine reptiles, notably sea turtles, when exposed to cold water for prolonged periods, which causes them to become weak and inactive. Cold-stunned sea turtles may float to the surface and be further exposed to cold temperatures, which can cause them to drown.[1] A water temperature threshold of 8[2] –10 °C[3] has been associated with mass turtle stunning events. After cold-stunning has taken place, there is only a very short period of time when sea turtles can be safely rescued.[4]

One study indicates that ocean warming has led to an increase in cold-stunning events in the northwest Atlantic.[5]

Notable instances

In 2016, 1,700 turtles were cold-stunned in North Carolina, following "an unusually temperate fall and early winter".[6]

In 2021, nearly 5,000 cold-stunned turtles were rescued in Texas during a winter storm;[7] it has been called the largest cold-stunning event to be documented in the state.[8]

See also

References

  1. Web site: 2021-02-11. Cold-Stunning and Sea Turtles – Frequently Asked Questions. 2021-02-19. NOAA Fisheries. en.
  2. Shaver. Donna J.. Tissot. Philippe E.. Streich. Mary M.. Walker. Jennifer Shelby. Rubio. Cynthia. Amos. Anthony F.. George. Jeffrey A.. Pasawicz. Michelle R. . amp . 2017-03-17. Hypothermic stunning of green sea turtles in a western Gulf of Mexico foraging habitat. PLOS ONE. en. 12. 3. e0173920. 10.1371/journal.pone.0173920 . 5357020. 28306747. 2017PLoSO..1273920S. free.
  3. Web site: Cold Stunned Sea Turtles. 2021-02-19. U.S. National Park Service. en.
  4. Roberts. Kelsey. Collins. Jennifer. Paxton. Charles H.. Hardy. Robert. Downs. Joni . amp . 2014-04-07. Weather patterns associated with green turtle hypothermic stunning events in St. Joseph Bay and Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Physical Geography. en. 10.1080/02723646.2014.898573 . 35 . 2 . 134–150. 140671808.
  5. Griffin. Lucas P.. Griffin. Curtice R.. Finn. John T.. Prescott. Robert L.. Faherty. Mark. Still. Brett M.. Danylchuk. Andy J. . amp . 2019-01-29. Warming seas increase cold-stunning events for Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the northwest Atlantic. PLOS ONE. en. 14. 1. e0211503. 10.1371/journal.pone.0211503 . 6350998. 30695074. 2019PLoSO..1411503G. free.
  6. Christiansen. Emily F. Finn. Harms. Craig A.. Godfrey. Matthew H.. Finn. Sarah A. . amp . 2016. 2016 North Carolina Sea Turtle Cold Stunning Event. 47th Annual International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) Meeting & Conference . Virginia Beach, VA.
  7. Web site: Daly. Natasha. 2021-02-19. Nearly 5,000 sea turtles rescued from freezing waters on Texas island. https://web.archive.org/web/20210219182124/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/nearly-5000-sea-turtles-rescued-from-freezing-waters-on-texas-island. dead. February 19, 2021. 2021-02-19. National Geographic. en.
  8. Web site: DeSantis. Rachel. Aradillas. Elaine. 2021-02-18. Local Sea Turtle Expert Calls 'Cold-Stunning' Event the 'Largest' That's Been Documented in Texas. 2021-02-19. PEOPLE.com. en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cold-stunning".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.