Hotter nests produce smarter young lizards

Amiel, Joshua J.; Shine, Richard

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.1161

Cited by 86 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Lett. 13: 20170002 [9][10][11], and such changes might be correlated with poorer learning ability in hot-incubated hatchlings [13]. Our survival analyses revealed a positive correlation between learning scores and offspring survival (figure 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

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Incubation under climate warming affects learning ability and survival in hatchling lizards

Dayananda¹,

Webb²

2017

Biol. Lett.

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Despite compelling evidence for substantial individual differences in cognitive performance, it is unclear whether cognitive ability influences fitness of wild animals. In many animals, environmental stressors experienced in utero can produce substantial variation in the cognitive abilities of offspring. In reptiles, incubation temperatures experienced by embryos can influence hatchling brain function and learning ability. Under climate warming, the eggs of some lizard species may experience higher temperatures, which could affect the cognitive abilities of hatchlings. Whether such changes in cognitive abilities influence the survival of hatchlings is unknown. To determine whether incubation-induced changes in spatial learning ability affect hatchling survival, we incubated velvet gecko, Amalosia lesueurii, eggs using two fluctuating temperature regimes to mimic current (cold) versus future (hot) nest temperatures. We measured the spatial learning ability of hatchlings from each treatment, and released individually marked animals at two field sites in southeastern Australia. Hatchlings from hot-incubated eggs were slower learners than hatchlings from cold-incubated eggs. Survival analyses revealed that hatchlings with higher learning scores had higher survival than hatchlings with poor learning scores. Our results show that incubation temperature affects spatial learning ability in hatchling lizards, and that such changes can influence the survival of hatchlings in the wild.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…We measured the learning ability of 64 hatchlings ( [13]. Each hatchling was tested four times each day, over four consecutive days (total of 16 trials), and the total number of successful escapes was summed to produce learning scores for each individual [17].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incubation under climate warming affects learning ability and survival in hatchling lizards

Dayananda¹,

Webb²

2017

Biol. Lett.

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“…In fact, some enzymatic isoforms in rat testes display optimal kinetics of 32 °C (Ewing and Schanbacher 1970). The temperature dependence for hatching speed and reproductive success is similar in reptile females (Clarke and Zani 2012;Amiel and Shine 2012;Bell et al 2013). Taken together, good arguments can be forwarded that the lesser hedgehog tenrec supports a concept linking evolution of eutherian endothermy to BAT.…”

Section: The Potential Role For Ancient Bat In Reproductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Brown adipose tissue: physiological function and evolutionary significance

2015

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In modern eutherian (placental) mammals, brown adipose tissue (BAT) evolved as a specialized thermogenic organ that is responsible for adaptive non-shivering thermogenesis (NST). For NST, energy metabolism of BAT mitochondria is increased by activation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which dissipates the proton motive force as heat. Despite the presence of UCP1 orthologues prior to the divergence of teleost fish and mammalian lineages, UCP1's significance for thermogenic adipose tissue emerged at later evolutionary stages. Recent studies on the presence of BAT in metatherians (marsupials) and eutherians of the afrotherian clade provide novel insights into the evolution of adaptive NST in mammals. In particular studies on the 'protoendothermic' lesser hedgehog tenrec (Afrotheria) suggest an evolutionary scenario linking BAT to the onset of eutherian endothermy. Here, we review the physiological function and distribution of BAT in an evolutionary context by focusing on the latest research on phylogenetically distinct species.

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“…Nevertheless, the temperature-dependent physiology of Mongolian Racerunners [23] may allow some hatchlings to compensate for reduced cognition by maintaining higher body temperatures, potentially overcoming an intrinsically weak ability to learn the location of safe retreats by increasing escape speed when confronted with potential threats [7]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embryonic oxygen enhances learning ability in hatchling lizards

et al. 2014

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IntroductionProducing smart offspring is an important fitness trait; individuals with enhanced cognitive ability should be more adept at responding to complex environmental demands. Cognitive ability can be influenced by conditions experienced during embryonic development. Although oxygen is necessary for embryonic development, availability can be limited within the nest environment because of substrate type, hydric conditions, and temperature. We do not yet understand, however, whether oxygen availability during embryonic development influences offspring fitness, especially cognitive ability. To address this question we incubated Mongolian Racerunner lizard (Eremias argus) eggs under hypoxic (12% O2), normoxic (21% O2), and hyperoxic conditions (30% O2).ResultsHypoxia not only slowed hatching time, but also resulted in constrained cognitive ability relative to hatchlings experiencing normoxic or hyperoxic incubation conditions. Oxygen did not influence hatching success, body size or sprint speed of hatchlings.ConclusionsOxygen availability during embryonic development has important influences on incubation duration and cognitive ability of hatchling lizards. This study provides the first evidence that oxygen availability during embryonic development can modify cognitive ability of oviparous reptiles.

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Hotter nests produce smarter young lizards

Cited by 86 publications

References 23 publications

Incubation under climate warming affects learning ability and survival in hatchling lizards

Incubation under climate warming affects learning ability and survival in hatchling lizards

Brown adipose tissue: physiological function and evolutionary significance

Embryonic oxygen enhances learning ability in hatchling lizards

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