橄榄蜘蛛龟首次在加州海滩产卵

橄榄蜘蛛龟在美国西海岸产卵尚属首次1。上周，两只不同的母龟分别在加州橙县的圣塞尔海滩和亨廷顿海滩产卵1。橄榄蜘蛛龟通常在墨西哥和中美洲的更南方海滩繁殖1，此次在加州出现产卵行为颇为罕见。

科学家推测这一现象的可能原因包括海岸温度升高、厄尔尼诺现象或飓风吹离航向1。一些人认为这可能反映了气候变暖导致海龟产卵范围北移的趋势，但也可能只是偶然事件。根据生物学特性，海龟性别由孵化温度决定，当温度达到87.8华氏度以上时，几乎所有幼龟都将是雌性1。

目前，发现的两处产卵点已用栅栏围起来保护1。卵孵化需要45至60天1，科学家预计在未来30至90天内可能看到更多海龟在该地区产卵1。

Olive ridley turtles have been documented nesting on California's beaches for the first time on record, marking an unprecedented occurrence on the U.S. West Coast.1 Last week, two separate female turtles laid eggs at different locations in Orange County—one at Seal Beach and another at Huntington Beach.1

These sea turtles typically nest on beaches further south in Mexico and Central America, prompting scientists to consider several explanations for their unexpected presence.1 Possible causes include rising coastal water temperatures, the influence of El Niño conditions, or hurricanes that may have blown the turtles off course.1 While the phenomenon could signal a northward shift in turtle nesting ranges due to climate warming, scientists acknowledge it may also be an isolated incident.1

The discovered nests have been secured with fencing for protection, with eggs expected to hatch within 45 to 60 days.1 Sand temperature plays a critical role in determining the sex of hatchlings, with nearly all eggs incubating above 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit developing as females.1 Scientists anticipate the possibility of observing additional turtle nesting activity over the next 30 to 90 days.1