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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Determining Temperature Preference of Mosquitoes and Other Ectotherms

Determining Temperature Preference of Mosquitoes and Other Ectotherms

Published on: September 28, 2022

Thermal variability during ectotherm egg incubation: A synthesis and framework.

Melanie D Massey¹, Jeffrey A Hutchings^1,2,3

¹Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology

|August 9, 2020

Summary

Most lab studies use constant temperatures, but natural incubation involves thermal variability. This review synthesizes 66 studies on ectothermic vertebrate egg incubation, revealing phenotypic effects and their persistence.

Keywords:

developmental plasticity diel fluctuations seasonal variability temperature fluctuations thermal variability

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Herpetology
Ichthyology

Background:

Ectothermic oviparous vertebrates naturally incubate eggs under variable thermal conditions.
Laboratory studies often use constant temperatures, failing to replicate natural incubation environments.
Understanding the impact of thermal variability on development is crucial for ecological and evolutionary insights.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review studies on ectothermic vertebrate egg incubation under thermally variable regimes.
To synthesize findings on phenotypic effects and their ontogenetic persistence from variable incubation.
To provide a physiological framework and identify future research directions.

Main Methods:

Systematic literature search for studies using thermally variable incubation for ectothermic vertebrate eggs.
Compilation of a compendium of 66 relevant studies.
Qualitative synthesis of findings on phenotypic effects and their persistence.

Main Results:

Identified 66 studies employing thermally variable incubation for ectothermic vertebrate eggs.
Documented diverse phenotypic effects resulting from different patterns of thermal variability.
Observed ontogenetic persistence of effects induced by variable incubation conditions.

Conclusions:

Thermal variability during incubation significantly impacts ectothermic vertebrate phenotypes.
These effects can persist throughout development, influencing organismal performance.
Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of thermal variability in natural incubation settings.