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Incubation environment and parental identity affect sea turtle development and hatchling phenotype
Boris Tezak1,2, Blair Bentley3,4, Mikaela Arena3
1Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431-0991, USA. btezak@fau.edu.
Oecologia
|April 10, 2020
Summary
Parental origin significantly impacts sea turtle hatching success and size, while nest moisture and temperature influence embryonic growth. These factors are crucial for understanding climate change effects on reptile development.
Area of Science:
- Herpetology
- Developmental Biology
- Climate Change Ecology
Background:
- Incubation environment critically influences reptile development and hatchling traits.
- Climate change necessitates understanding these environmental effects, especially for imperiled species like chelonians.
- Parental contributions also play a vital role in hatchling quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of parental origin and field incubation conditions on sea turtle embryonic development and hatchling phenotype.
- To assess the impact of clutch origin, incubation temperature, and nest moisture on loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta).
Main Methods:
- Studied loggerhead sea turtle nests incubating in natural field conditions.
- Analyzed the influence of parental origin (clutch), incubation temperature, and nest hydric environment.
- Measured embryonic growth, incubation duration, hatching success, and hatchling phenotype.
Main Results:
- Nest moisture and temperature affected embryo mass in late development.
- Hatchling size showed a positive correlation with nest moisture content.
- Maternal origin strongly influenced hatching success and hatchling size, independent of incubation conditions.
Conclusions:
- Multiple factors, including parental origin and environmental conditions, affect sea turtle embryonic development in the wild.
- Findings are fundamental for interpreting climate change impacts on reptilian development.
- Conservation strategies must consider both genetic and environmental influences on sea turtle populations.
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