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I read recently that turtles were being 鈥渃old-stunned鈥� and sharks were freezing to death in the ocean off the north-eastern US coast. This was due to a cold spell with air temperatures of -12掳C, rather than the average 1掳C. Is this particularly cold or within the normal winter range, and how is it possible for animals to be affected in these ways? Also, why do we not see mass freezing of land animals before sea animals are affected, given the relative stability of ocean temperatures?

Sophie McGlynn, Haverford College, Pennsylvania, US

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