5 CONCLUSIONS
Our study reveals the significant role of temperature, salinity, and some nutrients (such as nitrates, phosphates and silicates) in shaping the distribution of sea snakes. These variables are known to have implications for the morphology, diving behavior, coral reefs health, and feeding habits of sea snakes Moreover, our findings offer valuable insights for conservation management strategies.
Furthermore, our study demonstrates the asymmetric realized thermal limits of sea snakes, with less variation in their upper thermal limits compared to their lower thermal limits. This pattern is consistent with previous research on other endothermic and ectothermic species and has critical implications for sea snakes under scenarios of sea warming. Suggesting that sea snakes have accumulated greater plasticity in their lower thermal limits through an evolutionary process.