The Evolutionary Significance of Delayed Emergence From the Nest by Hatchling Turtles

Gibbons, J. Whitfield; Nelson, David H.

doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1978.tb00645.x

Cited by 91 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Although this mode of reproduction appears disadvantageous and uneconomical both for parents and young, some aspects of the reproduction pattern prevented a change. Consequent aspects of hatching strategies within marine turtles are studied by Gibbons and Nelson (1978). (5) Many reptilian lines redeveloped aquatic habitats during earth history, but only ichthyosaurians and some modern marine hydrophiid snakes were able to develop a new strategy in becoming viviparous (which is in this case, however, not really a new strategy, but a modification of an old one = ovoviviparous).…”

Section: Evolutionary Pattern Of Reproduction Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections on the origin of the amniote egg in the light of reproductive strategies and shell structure

Kohring

1995

Historical Biology

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Section: Evolutionary Pattern Of Reproduction Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections on the origin of the amniote egg in the light of reproductive strategies and shell structure

Kohring

1995

Historical Biology

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“…Some turtles delayed emergence from the fall until the spring as a strategy to cope with high environmental variability (Gibbons and Nelson 1978). High environmental variability can apply to temperature as well as other variables such as moisture.…”

Section: Incubation Temperature and Behavioral Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of incubation temperature on behavior of hatchling pine snakes: implications for reptilian distribution

Burger

1991

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Incubation temperatures in vertebrates affectincubation periods, and in some reptiles incubation temperature determines sex ratios and some limited behavior. Here I present evidence that incubation temperature in pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) affects not only incubation periods and posthatching behavior in the laboratory, but also the behavior of hatchlings required for successful emergence and survival. These behavioral differences have evolutionary implications for selection of hatchlings from particular temperature nests. With increasing temperature, incubation periods decreased in the laboratory. In addition, incubation temperature affected hatching and emergence times as well as movement speed and foraging ability. Hatchlings from medium temperature conditions emerged from nests in the field in less time than hatchlings incubated at high or low temperatures, and hatchlings from low temperatures moved slower and were less able to capture and eat mice in the laboratory than hatchlings incubated at medium or high temperatures. Taken together, these laboratory and field experiments suggest that hatchlings from low temperature nests, compared to those from higher temperature nests, would be less able to emerge, find food, and locate hibernation sites prior to the onset of cold temperatures in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. These results suggest that incubation temperature affects a whole range of behavior and that distributional ranges of reptiles and other poikilotherms could be affected by summer temperatures (via incubation period and subsequent behavior) as well as ambient winter temperatures.

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“…Higher incubation temperatures normally result in shorter incubation times in reptiles (e.g. Gutzke et al, 1987;Packard & Packard, 1988;Congdon & Gibbons, 1990;Brooks et al, 1991;Van Damme et al, 1992;Cagle et al, 1993), and in Doiiana mean temperatures in May are considerably lower than in June (19-yr monthly means of 17 "C and 20.6 "C, respectively; data from a meteorological station at the study site). Thus, mean temperatures experienced by a clutch during the initial phases of incubation increase from May to June, resulting in progressively shorter incubation periods and the more synchronized pattern of emergence observed during the three study years.…”

Section: Hatching and Emergencementioning

confidence: 96%

“…Incubation time and emergences are supposed to be adjusted to environmental conditions through long-term optimization of traits like the timing of egg-laying and nest-site choice, and, in some cases, by the capability of hatchlings to delay emergence from the nest (Gibbons & Nelson, 1978;Congdon & Gibbons, 1985;Jackson, 1994;Costanzo et al, 1995), in order to maximize hatchling survival rates. Nests in the field are otherwise subject to hazards such as predation and trampling, which may influence significantly the annual recruitment rate into the population (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hatching success, delay of emergence and hatchling biometry of the spur‐thighed tortoise,Testudo graeca, in south‐western Spain

1997

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With 3 figures in the text)Hatching success, egg incubation, emergence and hatchling characteristics were assessed for 44 naturally incubating nests of Testudo graeca in south-westem Spain. Nest predation rate was 4.5% and overall hatching success was 82.4%. Incubation periods ranged from 78 to 114 days, and hatchlings delayed emergence from the nest from one to 23 days. Emergences occurred from mid August to late September, and were not correlated with nesting dates, but earlier laid nests had longer incubation times, which was probably owing to lower temperatures experienced by clutches laid at the beginning of the nesting season. Variance of hatchling body size and mass was high and was mainly influenced by the gravid female. Mean straight carapace length was 34.14mm, and mean body mass 10.8g. Hatchlings from clutches laid last in the nesting season had significantly better physical condition. Hatchling mass was positively correlated with egg mass, and both variables were positively correlated with emergence date. Both better physical condition and relatively late emergence may confer advantages to hatchlings in the face of unfavourable environmental conditions in autumn.

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The Evolutionary Significance of Delayed Emergence From the Nest by Hatchling Turtles

Cited by 91 publications

References 27 publications

Reflections on the origin of the amniote egg in the light of reproductive strategies and shell structure

Reflections on the origin of the amniote egg in the light of reproductive strategies and shell structure

Effects of incubation temperature on behavior of hatchling pine snakes: implications for reptilian distribution

Hatching success, delay of emergence and hatchling biometry of the spur‐thighed tortoise,Testudo graeca, in south‐western Spain

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