so if only the female turtles lay eggs, what if all 200 eggs are male turtles?

Answer 1

Just in addition to haysoos2, who actually nailed it as usual, your question actually bears some relevance for current research. The overall average temperature on the planet has increased by about one degree Celsius over the past one hundred years. This may seem negatable, but in fact it can have some severe adverse effects on species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). As haysoos pointed out, in TSD species the gonadal sex of an individual is a function of the embryonic temperature (and humidity) the individual experienced during a sensitive period (which differs from species to species). In turtles, at a lower temperature all the embryos develop male gonads, at higher temps female gonads. If indeed a single clutch would produce exclusively offspring of one sex, which is very possible, it would not necessarily affect the overal population simply because the sex ratio of the pop is not necessarily equal to that of our particular clutch.

However, what if the environmental temperature would change? In that case it would be less the position of the nest as the overall ambient temperature that would affect the gonadal sex of the embryos. It has been argued that global warming may indeed affect the sex ratio in populations of TSD species adversely. To give you an example: In leopard geckos incubation at 30 degrees Celsius will produce a sex ratio of 25% males to 75% females. At only 32.5 degrees Celsius this ratio is inverted to now 75% males and 25% females. Given that such minor changes in incubation temperature could indeed have significant effects on the sex ratio, the increase of one degree Celsius does indeed give reason for concern.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Actually, the chances of all 200 eggs being male is theoretically possible with some turtle species.

While in mammals, sexual determination is completely genetic (i.e. XY chromosome is male, XX is female), this is not so concrete in many reptiles and most amphibians.

The temperature at which the eggs develop can have a major effect on the sex of the critter that eventually emerges from the egg. So if the nest was too hot or too cool, it is entirely possible that an entire brood of turtle eggs could emerge as one sex.

If this were to happen, then the next generation would definitely have a skewed sex ratio. It is likely that many of those males would be unable to find mates and would be less likely to have descendants. But as long as some of the other female turtles produced female offspring, then the species as a whole would not suffer.

Answer 3

It is a FACT that female turtle lay eggs. Not, "if only the female turtle lay eggs."

"what if all 200 eggs are male turtles?" There will be more males and less females in the next generation. Don't forget that the turtle will reproduce again and again.

Unless you are saying that from a particular point in time, there will not be any more female babies which is an unlikely event but just to go along with you. Then given sufficient time, you would suggest that the species would be unable to reproduce because the female species had become extinct and eventually all the male turtles would die out too.

In that case, what you would have is an extinct turtle species. But more likely, the species will died out through other circumstances rather than through the curse of the uni-sex syndrome.

Answer 4

Then unfortunately, turtles would have a very difficult time maintaining their population, as there would not be enough females in the new generation to create more offspring. If this kept happening, then of course turtles would slowly become extinct.

Fortunately, the chances of all 200 eggs being male are (1/2)^200 which basically = 0 chance of happening :)

Answer 5

if all 200 turtles were born male, it would be a statistical anomally, and you should bare in mind that more than one turtle lays eggs, so it would be impossible to have a generation of male-only turtles, however, if this were to happen by some freak of nature, turtles live well-beyond the human life-span, and reproduce once a year, thus, the turtles that laid this batch, would simply lay another one next year (lightning usually only strikes once)

Answer 6

then the female turtles are just screwed

Answer 7

With what ifs everything can be possible?What if you die tomorrow?

I guess the turtles are bound to become gays

Answer 8

I suppose that just means more dudes for the chicks.

Answer 9

there is no chance that all the eggs are male.....

Answer 10

WTF? Only women can give birth and we have men and women!