The bleak future
The leatherback turtle may be less affected by climate change than other marine turtle species, due to their flexibility in nesting site choice and sea surface temperature ranges, but they are still reasonably threatened by it and other factors[3] [7]. While leatherback turtles have adapted to past experiences of climatic changes over their course evolution, they have yet to face climate change occurring as fast or as severe as that which is happening now[7]. In addition to the threats associated to climate change, they also face the threats of oceanic heavy metal pollution, habitat destruction, coastal development, plastic consumption, human harvesting, and fishery by-catch[1] [3] [11] [14]. A combination of these threats coupled with the exacerbation of climate change and its threats spell a bleak future of the leatherback turtle, as well as the other six sea turtle species.