07/21/2026
We read about climate disruptions in the media and experience their effects in our own lives, but rising global temperatures affect all living things on Earth, including the Olive Ridley sea turtles that nest on the sands of Corozalito Beach in Costa Rica.
The rising temperatures of the sand negatively affect hatching rates but also, remarkably, the gender of the sea turtle hatchlings. At 84°F, nests produce about 50% male and 50% female turtles. Just a few degrees warmer? The hatchlings become overwhelmingly female, threatening the species' future.
Marine biologists, through funding from the Riester Foundation, are monitoring sand temperatures and the impacts on the species, which will assist in conservation efforts for years to come, not only on Corozalito Beach but around the world. Learn more about the foundation at riesterfoundation.org