Mild temperature rise benefits skinks who lay eggs in natural surroundings

Orchid Island skinks impacted by global warming

“As Orchid Island’s ambient temperature rose by 0.5 degree Celsius from 2001 to 2009, temperatures inside drain pipe openings in a concrete retaining wall, where some skinks choose to lay their eggs, increased by an average of 1.7 degrees Celsius,” Huang said.

As a consequence, the survival rate of skink eggs in this man-made environment decreased by 25 percent over the decade, while that of those laid in natural habitats grew by 15 percent, Huang said. “The mild temperature climb has actually been beneficial to offspring viability when eggs are laid under rocks in natural surroundings,” he added.