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Updated: May 20, 2026

Determining Temperature Preference of Mosquitoes and Other Ectotherms
Published on: September 28, 2022
Differences induced by incubation temperature, versus androgen manipulation, in male leopard geckos (Eublepharis
1Section of Integrative Biology, 2401 Speedway, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Abstract:
A fundamental tenet of sexual selection is that in sexually dimorphic traits, there is variation within a sex. In leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius), a species with temperature-dependent sex determination, embryonic temperature contributes both to sex determination and polymorphisms within each sex. In this study we report that males from different incubation temperatures, one hitherto untested, exhibit significant differences in behavior even when castrated. Further, treatment with dihydrotestosterone increases scent marking, a territorial behavior. This supports previous results indicating that temperature has a direct organizing action on brain and sociosexual behavior independent of gonadal hormones.

