Cold-stunning

Two rescued cold-stunned turtles

Cold-stunning, also known as hypothermic stunning, is a hypothermic reaction experienced by marine reptiles, especially sea turtles, after prolonged exposure to cold water. Affected animals become weak and inactive. Cold-stunned sea turtles may float to the surface, where further exposure to cold temperatures can cause them to drown. Water temperatures of 8–10 °C have been associated with mass turtle-stunning events. Rescue is time-sensitive after cold-stunning occurs.

One study indicates that ocean warming has increased cold-stunning events affecting Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the northwest Atlantic.

Notable instances

Video of the rescue efforts in 2021 by the Texas State Aquarium

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

In 2021, nearly 5,000 cold-stunned turtles were rescued in Texas during a winter storm. It was described as the largest cold-stunning event documented in the state.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Cold-Stunning and Sea Turtles - Frequently Asked Questions". NOAA Fisheries. 2021-02-11. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  2. ↑ Shaver, Donna J.; Tissot, Philippe E.; Streich, Mary M.; Walker, Jennifer Shelby; Rubio, Cynthia; Amos, Anthony F.; George, Jeffrey A. & Pasawicz, Michelle R. (2017-03-17). "Hypothermic stunning of green sea turtles in a western Gulf of Mexico foraging habitat". PLOS ONE. 12 (3) e0173920. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1273920S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173920. PMC 5357020. PMID 28306747.
  3. ↑ "Cold Stunned Sea Turtles". U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  4. ↑ Roberts, Kelsey; Collins, Jennifer; Paxton, Charles H.; Hardy, Robert & Downs, Joni (2014-04-07). "Weather patterns associated with green turtle hypothermic stunning events in St. Joseph Bay and Mosquito Lagoon, Florida". Physical Geography. 35 (2): 134–150. doi:10.1080/02723646.2014.898573. S2CID 140671808.
  5. ↑ Griffin, Lucas P.; Griffin, Curtice R.; Finn, John T.; Prescott, Robert L.; Faherty, Mark; Still, Brett M. & Danylchuk, Andy J. (2019-01-29). "Warming seas increase cold-stunning events for Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the northwest Atlantic". PLOS ONE. 14 (1) e0211503. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1411503G. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211503. PMC 6350998. PMID 30695074.
  6. ↑ Christiansen, Emily F. Finn; Harms, Craig A.; Godfrey, Matthew H. & Finn, Sarah A. (2016). 2016 North Carolina Sea Turtle Cold Stunning Event. 47th Annual International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) Meeting & Conference. Virginia Beach, VA.
  7. ↑ Daly, Natasha (2021-02-19). "Nearly 5,000 sea turtles rescued from freezing waters on Texas island". National Geographic. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  8. ↑ DeSantis, Rachel; Aradillas, Elaine (2021-02-18). "Local Sea Turtle Expert Calls 'Cold-Stunning' Event the 'Largest' That's Been Documented in Texas". People. Retrieved 2021-02-19.