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Temperature-dependent sex determination in turtles.

J J Bull, R C Vogt

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |December 7, 1979
    PubMed
    Summary

    Turtle egg incubation temperature determines hatchling sex in map turtles, not mortality. This temperature-dependent sex determination contrasts with soft-shelled turtles, where temperature has no effect.

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    SEX DETERMINING TEMPERATURES IN TURTLES: A GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON.

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    Area of Science:

    • Herpetology
    • Developmental Biology
    • Ecology

    Background:

    • Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) is a phenomenon where environmental temperature influences the sex of developing embryos.
    • Map turtles exhibit TSD, a crucial factor in their reproductive success and population dynamics.
    • Understanding TSD mechanisms is vital for conservation efforts, especially in changing environmental conditions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of incubation temperature in sex determination for map turtles.
    • To determine if temperature influences sex differentiation or differential mortality in map turtle embryos.
    • To compare sex determination mechanisms between map turtles and soft-shelled turtles.

    Main Methods:

    • Controlled laboratory experiments exposing map turtle eggs to various incubation temperatures.
    • Field observations of map turtle nesting sites to correlate natural temperatures with hatchling sex ratios.
    • Comparative analysis of sex determination in soft-shelled turtles under similar temperature conditions.

    Main Results:

    • Incubation temperature significantly influenced the sex of hatchling map turtles in both laboratory and natural settings.
    • Evidence indicated that temperature directly controls sex differentiation, not by causing differential survival rates between sexes.
    • No effect of incubation temperature on sex determination was observed in the studied soft-shelled turtle population.

    Conclusions:

    • Incubation temperature is a primary determinant of sex in map turtles, highlighting the ecological significance of thermal environments.
    • The mechanism of sex determination in map turtles is confirmed to be direct temperature-mediated differentiation.
    • Soft-shelled turtles appear to utilize a different sex determination system, unaffected by incubation temperature, suggesting diverse evolutionary pathways in turtles.

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