Palm Beach County, Florida – A new study from Florida Atlantic University reveals that rising sand temperatures may not diminish the learning abilities of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings, offering a glimmer of hope amid growing climate concerns.

Researchers tested hatchlings incubated at two female-producing temperatures, 88°F and 91°F, using a Y-maze and visual discrimination tasks. The turtles were trained to associate food rewards with specific patterns and then had to “reverse train” when the rules changed, testing their behavioral flexibility.

Unexpectedly, hatchlings from both temperature groups learned and adapted successfully. In 2020, they even performed better during the reversal phase, demonstrating remarkable speed in adjusting to new conditions.

“Not only were the post-hatchlings capable of suppressing previously learned behaviors to form new, more advantageous associations, they were able to do so with remarkable speed,” said Sarah L. Milton, Ph.D., senior author. “This surprising level of behavioral flexibility suggests that these young turtles may be better equipped to navigate and adapt to rapidly changing environmental challenges.”

However, higher incubation temperatures did impact physical traits. Hatchlings from 91°F nests had shorter incubation periods, lower hatching success, slower growth, more shell scale defects, and smaller body size, which could affect swimming and predator evasion.

“The concern remains very real,” said Ivana J. Lezcano, Ph.D. candidate and corresponding author. “Elevated temperatures produce smaller, less resilient hatchlings, posing serious risks to population survival. Yet the fact that cognitive ability may remain intact offers a hopeful perspective.”

Researchers caution that temperatures above 91°F, already recorded in South Florida, could still pose risks to both survival and cognition. They emphasize that conservation efforts should consider not just hatchling numbers but also their physical and behavioral quality.

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