Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
07:54
Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
Published on: March 9, 2021
3.0K
Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination in Crocodilians and Climate Challenges
Boglárka Mária Schilling-Tóth1, Scott M Belcher2, Josefine Knotz1
1Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|July 13, 2024
Summary
Temperature-dependent sex determination in crocodilians is influenced by incubation temperatures during development. This review explores the molecular mechanisms, temperature thresholds, and climate change impacts on crocodilian sex ratios.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Developmental Biology
- Herpetology
Background:
- Sex determination in crocodilians is primarily controlled by incubation temperatures.
- Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) is a widespread phenomenon in reptiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular basis of TSD in crocodilians.
- To examine temperature thresholds and critical developmental periods affecting sex ratios.
- To assess the impact of climate change on crocodilian sex determination.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of existing research on artificial incubation temperatures in crocodiles and alligators.
- Review of molecular studies on crocodilian sex determination mechanisms.
- Examination of climate change models and their potential effects on reptile populations.
Main Results:
- Specific temperature ranges alter sex ratios in crocodilians.
- Precise temperature thresholds for equal male and female production have been identified.
- The critical developmental window for sex determination has been elucidated.
Conclusions:
- Understanding TSD mechanisms is crucial for crocodilian conservation.
- Climate change poses significant risks to crocodilian populations due to altered sex ratios.
- Further research into molecular pathways and climate resilience is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
6.5K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.5K
02:29Hybrid Zones
17.0K
Hybrid zones are narrow regions where two closely related species interact, mate, and produce hybrids. Relative to either parent species, hybrids may possess distinct phenotypic or genetic differences that impact their survival and reproductive success. The genetic variances introduced by hybridization influence species diversity and speciation processes within the hybrid zone.
17.0K
01:25Body Temperature
935
The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
935
01:21Testing a Claim about Mean: Unknown Population SD
3.4K
A complete procedure of testing a hypothesis about a population mean when the population standard deviation is unknown is explained here.
Estimating a population mean requires the samples to be approximately normally distributed. The data should be collected from the randomly selected samples having no sampling bias. There is no specific requirement for sample size. But if the sample size is less than 30, and we don't know the population standard deviation, a different approach is used;...
Estimating a population mean requires the samples to be approximately normally distributed. The data should be collected from the randomly selected samples having no sampling bias. There is no specific requirement for sample size. But if the sample size is less than 30, and we don't know the population standard deviation, a different approach is used;...
3.4K
01:50Global Climate Change
24.3K
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
24.3K
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
13.4K
Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
13.4K