1
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Warner DA, Mitchell TS, Janzen FJ. Increased nest temperature during winter does not affect residual yolk metabolism of hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta). Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 39228211 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Rising global temperatures have a wide range of effects at organismal, population, and ecosystem levels. Increased winter temperatures are expected to alter the energetics of species that are dormant during this time. Hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) spend their first ∼8 months in shallow nests on land, where they putatively rely on residual yolk reserves to fuel energetic demands during this period of inactivity before they emerge in the spring. We performed a laboratory experiment to characterize changes in residual yolk quantity in hatchling C. picta and experimentally tested the effect of temperature on residual yolk, hatchling size, and survival over the winter brumation period. We manipulated winter nest temperature by simulating two natural thermal regimes ("low" vs "high" treatments) and one regime that approximates warmer temperatures expected by 2100 ("future" treatment). Because high temperature increases metabolism, we predicted that the future temperature treatment would decrease the amount of residual yolk remaining by the end of winter and reduce hatchling mass and survival. Residual yolk over winter did not differ from that before winter, and the temperature had no effect on the quantity of residual yolk or hatchling survival by the following spring. However, hatchlings that experienced future temperatures lost more mass over winter than those from the other treatments. These results correspond with previous work indicating that residual yolk does not fuel the energetic needs of hatchlings during winter. The effect of future warming temperatures on body mass may have negative consequences during energetically demanding activities during spring emergence and dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Timothy S Mitchell
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Fredric J Janzen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
- Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan, USA
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2
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Cordero GA, Balk ML, Pérez-González CE, Solberg LM, Doody JS, Plummer MV, Janzen FJ. Geographic variation in incubation temperatures promoting viable offspring production in broadly co-distributed turtles. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:509-524. [PMID: 38436056 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Organisms whose early life stages are environmentally sensitive produce offspring within a relatively narrow range of suitable abiotic conditions. In reptiles, development rate and survival are often maximized if incubation temperatures remain under 31°C, though this upper bound may vary within and among species. We addressed this expectation by comparing responses to egg incubation at 30°C versus 33°C in congeneric turtle species pairs with broad syntopic geographic distributions. In the two softshell turtles (Apalone spp.), the greatest changes in development rate and phenotypic variance were observed in the northernmost population, which had a low survival rate (40%) at 33°C. The presumably suboptimal temperature (33°C) for northern populations otherwise yielded 76%-93% survival rates and fast swimming speeds in more southern populations. Still, in one species, northern hatchlings incubated at 33°C matched the elevated speeds of their southern counterparts, revealing a countergradient response. In northern populations of the two map turtles (Graptemys spp.), survival was also reduced (28%-60%) at 33°C and the development rate (relative to 30°C) increased by up to 75%. Our experiments on divergent taxa with similar nesting ecologies substantiate that the optimal thermal range for offspring production is variable. These findings encourage further work on how population- and species-level differences relate to local adaptation in widely distributed oviparous species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo A Cordero
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Michelle L Balk
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - César E Pérez-González
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Lisa M Solberg
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Jeremiah Sean Doody
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida-St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | | | - Fredric J Janzen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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3
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Judson JM, Hoekstra LA, Janzen FJ. Demographic history and genomic signatures of selection in a widespread vertebrate ectotherm. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17269. [PMID: 38234254 PMCID: PMC10922411 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Environmental conditions vary greatly across large geographic ranges, and yet certain species inhabit entire continents. In such species, genomic sequencing can inform our understanding of colonization history and the impact of selection on the genome as populations experience diverse local environments. As ectothermic vertebrates are among the most vulnerable to environmental change, it is critical to understand the contributions of local adaptation to population survival. Widespread ectotherms offer an opportunity to explore how species can successfully inhabit such differing environments and how future climatic shifts will impact species' survival. In this study, we investigated the widespread painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) to assess population genomic structure, demographic history, and genomic signatures of selection in the western extent of the range. We found support for a substantial role of serial founder effects in shaping population genomic structure: demographic analysis and runs of homozygosity were consistent with bottlenecks of increasing severity from eastern to western populations during and following the Last Glacial Maximum, and edge populations were more strongly diverged and had less genetic diversity than those from the centre of the range. We also detected outlier loci, but allelic patterns in many loci could be explained by either genetic surfing or selection. While range expansion complicates the identification of loci under selection, we provide candidates for future study of local adaptation in a long-lived, widespread ectotherm that faces an uncertain future as the global climate continues to rapidly change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M. Judson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Current Address: W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife & Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA
| | - Luke A. Hoekstra
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Current Address: Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Fredric J. Janzen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Current Address: W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife & Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA
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4
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Du WG, Li SR, Sun BJ, Shine R. Can nesting behaviour allow reptiles to adapt to climate change? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220153. [PMID: 37427463 PMCID: PMC10331901 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
A range of abiotic parameters within a reptile nest influence the viability and attributes (including sex, behaviour and body size) of hatchlings that emerge from that nest. As a result of that sensitivity, a reproducing female can manipulate the phenotypic attributes of her offspring by laying her eggs at times and in places that provide specific conditions. Nesting reptiles shift their behaviour in terms of timing of oviposition, nest location and depth of eggs beneath the soil surface across spatial and temporal gradients. Those maternal manipulations affect mean values and variances of both temperature and soil moisture, and may modify the vulnerability of embryos to threats such as predation and parasitism. By altering thermal and hydric conditions in reptile nests, climate change has the potential to dramatically modify the developmental trajectories and survival rates of embryos, and the phenotypes of hatchlings. Reproducing females buffer such effects by modifying the timing, location and structure of nests in ways that enhance offspring viability. Nonetheless, our understanding of nesting behaviours in response to climate change remains limited in reptiles. Priority topics for future studies include documenting climate-induced changes in the nest environment, the degree to which maternal behavioural shifts can mitigate climate-related deleterious impacts on offspring development, and ecological and evolutionary consequences of maternal nesting responses to climate change. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Ran Li
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Zhejiang 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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5
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Bodensteiner BL, Iverson JB, Lea CA, Milne-Zelman CL, Mitchell TS, Refsnider JM, Voves K, Warner DA, Janzen FJ. Mother knows best: nest-site choice homogenizes embryo thermal environments among populations in a widespread ectotherm. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220155. [PMID: 37427473 PMCID: PMC10331915 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Species with large geographical ranges provide an excellent model for studying how different populations respond to dissimilar local conditions, particularly with respect to variation in climate. Maternal effects, such as nest-site choice greatly affect offspring phenotypes and survival. Thus, maternal behaviour has the potential to mitigate the effects of divergent climatic conditions across a species' range. We delineated natural nesting areas of six populations of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) that span a broad latitudinal range and quantified spatial and temporal variation in nest characteristics. To quantify microhabitats available for females to choose, we also identified sites within the nesting area of each location that were representative of available thermal microhabitats. Across the range, females nested non-randomly and targeted microhabitats that generally had less canopy cover and thus higher nest temperatures. Nest microhabitats differed among locations but did not predictably vary with latitude or historic mean air temperature during embryonic development. In conjunction with other studies of these populations, our results suggest that nest-site choice is homogenizing nest environments, which buffers embryos from thermally induced selection and could slow embryonic evolution. Thus, although effective at a macroclimatic scale, nest-site choice is unlikely to compensate for novel stressors that rapidly increase local temperatures. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke L. Bodensteiner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - John B. Iverson
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 60071, USA
| | - Carter A. Lea
- Office of Research Proposal Development, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | | | - Timothy S. Mitchell
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Jeanine M. Refsnider
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | | | - Daniel A. Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Fredric J. Janzen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA
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6
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Roberts HP, Willey LL, Jones MT, Akre TSB, King DI, Kleopfer J, Brown DJ, Buchanan SW, Chandler HC, deMaynadier P, Winters M, Erb L, Gipe KD, Johnson G, Lauer K, Liebgold EB, Mays JD, Meck JR, Megyesy J, Mota JL, Nazdrowicz NH, Oxenrider KJ, Parren M, Ransom TS, Rohrbaugh L, Smith S, Yorks D, Zarate B. Is the future female for turtles? Climate change and wetland configuration predict sex ratios of a freshwater species. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:2643-2654. [PMID: 36723260 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and land-use change are leading drivers of biodiversity decline, affecting demographic parameters that are important for population persistence. For example, scientists have speculated for decades that climate change may skew adult sex ratios in taxa that express temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), but limited evidence exists that this phenomenon is occurring in natural settings. For species that are vulnerable to anthropogenic land-use practices, differential mortality among sexes may also skew sex ratios. We sampled the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), a freshwater species with TSD, across a large portion of its geographic range (Florida to Maine), to assess the environmental factors influencing adult sex ratios. We present evidence that suggests recent climate change has potentially skewed the adult sex ratio of spotted turtles, with samples following a pattern of increased proportions of females concomitant with warming trends, but only within the warmer areas sampled. At intermediate temperatures, there was no relationship with climate, while in the cooler areas we found the opposite pattern, with samples becoming more male biased with increasing temperatures. These patterns might be explained in part by variation in relative adaptive capacity via phenotypic plasticity in nest site selection. Our findings also suggest that spotted turtles have a context-dependent and multi-scale relationship with land use. We observed a negative relationship between male proportion and the amount of crop cover (within 300 m) when wetlands were less spatially aggregated. However, when wetlands were aggregated, sex ratios remained consistent. This pattern may reflect sex-specific patterns in movement that render males more vulnerable to mortality from agricultural machinery and other threats. Our findings highlight the complexity of species' responses to both climate change and land use, and emphasize the role that landscape structure can play in shaping wildlife population demographics.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Patrick Roberts
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lisabeth L Willey
- Department of Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England, Keene, New Hampshire, USA
- American Turtle Observatory, New Salem, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael T Jones
- Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas S B Akre
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA
| | - David I King
- U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John Kleopfer
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Charles City, Virginia, USA
| | - Donald J Brown
- U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Amboy, Washington, USA
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Scott W Buchanan
- Division of Fish and Wildlife, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, West Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Houston C Chandler
- The Orianne Society, Tiger, Georgia, USA
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Melissa Winters
- New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Concord, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Lori Erb
- The Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation, Oley, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Katharine D Gipe
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Glenn Johnson
- Biology Department, State University of New York, Potsdam, New York, USA
| | - Kathryn Lauer
- Department of Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England, Keene, New Hampshire, USA
- American Turtle Observatory, New Salem, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric B Liebgold
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan D Mays
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jessica R Meck
- Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, Massachusetts, USA
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA
| | - Joshua Megyesy
- New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Concord, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Joel L Mota
- U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Amboy, Washington, USA
| | - Nathan H Nazdrowicz
- Species Conservation and Research Program, Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife, Delaware, USA
| | - Kevin J Oxenrider
- West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Romney, West Virginia, USA
| | - Molly Parren
- American Turtle Observatory, New Salem, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tami S Ransom
- Environmental Studies Department, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
| | - Lindsay Rohrbaugh
- District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Scott Smith
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland, Wye Mills, USA
| | - Derek Yorks
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Augusta, Maine, USA
| | - Brian Zarate
- New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Lebanon, New Jersey, USA
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7
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Roe JH. Spatial Ecology, Movements, and Habitat Selection of Clemmys guttata in a Temporally Dynamic Wetland System in North Carolina, USA. HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2023; 18:140-154. [PMID: 37981954 PMCID: PMC10655762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Turtle populations are in decline worldwide, requiring immediate conservation and management actions. For species with broad geographic ranges that cover diverse environmental contexts, region-specific information on declining species could inform more targeted management plans. I examined the ecology of a Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) population in a temporally dynamic wetland system in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of North Carolina. Turtles selected forested wetlands and streams while avoiding open wetlands and river habitats, but used terrestrial habitats minimally and randomly. Turtles responded to wetland drying by remaining in wetlands and maintaining modest levels of activity during short-duration drying events (< 1 mo), but moved very little during longer droughts (7 mo). Turtles had prolonged active seasons (February-October) as long as wetlands and streams were flooded, with movement rates peaking in late spring at 23.6 ± 3.7 m/d (mean ± standard error). Turtles had large home ranges (14.1 ± 4.3 ha) that often included multiple local stream networks used as movement corridors between forested wetland patches and as activity centers when wetlands dried. I suggest that conservation plans for C. guttata include large management areas that protect a network of streams and adjacent forested swamps in the Southeastern Plains and perhaps other lowland ecoregions in the Southeastern U.S. Because terrestrial habitats were not used for extended refuge during drought, certain low-impact land uses in adjacent terrestrial areas are not likely to negatively impact C. guttata populations, but terrestrial forests would still be important in maintaining overland travel corridors.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Roe
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Pembroke, One University Drive, Pembroke, North Carolina 28372, USA
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8
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Iverson JB. Climate-Mediated Recruitment Failure in a Turtle Population and Its Bearing on Northern Limits of Distribution. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1554.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John B. Iverson
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana 47374 USA []
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9
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A quantitative synthesis of and predictive framework for studying winter warming effects in reptiles. Oecologia 2022; 200:259-271. [PMID: 36100724 PMCID: PMC9547783 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05251-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Increases in temperature related to global warming have important implications for organismal fitness. For ectotherms inhabiting temperate regions, ‘winter warming’ is likely to be a key source of the thermal variation experienced in future years. Studies focusing on the active season predict largely positive responses to warming in the reptiles; however, overlooking potentially deleterious consequences of warming during the inactive season could lead to biased assessments of climate change vulnerability. Here, we review the overwinter ecology of reptiles, and test specific predictions about the effects of warming winters, by performing a meta-analysis of all studies testing winter warming effects on reptile traits to date. We collated information from observational studies measuring responses to natural variation in temperature in more than one winter season, and experimental studies which manipulated ambient temperature during the winter season. Available evidence supports that most reptiles will advance phenologies with rising winter temperatures, which could positively affect fitness by prolonging the active season although effects of these shifts are poorly understood. Conversely, evidence for shifts in survivorship and body condition in response to warming winters was equivocal, with disruptions to biological rhythms potentially leading to unforeseen fitness ramifications. Our results suggest that the effects of warming winters on reptile species are likely to be important but highlight the need for more data and greater integration of experimental and observational approaches. To improve future understanding, we recap major knowledge gaps in the published literature of winter warming effects in reptiles and outline a framework for future research.
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10
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Durso AM, Kieran TJ, Glenn TC, Mullin SJ. Comparison of Three Methods for Measuring Dietary Composition of Plains Hog-nosed Snakes. HERPETOLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-21-00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Durso
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920, USA
| | - Troy J. Kieran
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Travis C. Glenn
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Stephen J. Mullin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920, USA
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11
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Gatto CR, Reina RD. A review of the effects of incubation conditions on hatchling phenotypes in non-squamate reptiles. J Comp Physiol B 2022; 192:207-233. [PMID: 35142902 PMCID: PMC8894305 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-021-01415-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Developing embryos of oviparous reptiles show substantial plasticity in their responses to environmental conditions during incubation, which can include altered sex ratios, morphology, locomotor performance and hatching success. While recent research and reviews have focused on temperature during incubation, emerging evidence suggests other environmental variables are also important in determining hatchling phenotypes. Understanding how the external environment influences development is important for species management and requires identifying how environmental variables exert their effects individually, and how they interact to affect developing embryos. To address this knowledge gap, we review the literature on phenotypic responses in oviparous non-squamate (i.e., turtles, crocodilians and tuataras) reptile hatchlings to temperature, moisture, oxygen concentration and salinity. We examine how these variables influence one another and consider how changes in each variable alters incubation conditions and thus, hatchling phenotypes. We explore how incubation conditions drive variation in hatchling phenotypes and influence adult populations. Finally, we highlight knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Gatto
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Richard D Reina
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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12
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Holden KG, Gangloff EJ, Miller DAW, Hedrick AR, Dinsmore C, Basel A, Kutz G, Bronikowski AM. Over a decade of field physiology reveals life-history specific strategies to drought in garter snakes ( Thamnophis legans). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212187. [PMID: 35078358 PMCID: PMC8790353 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Changing climates and severe weather events can affect population viability. Individuals need to buffer such negative fitness consequences through physiological plasticity. Whether certain life-history strategies are more conducive to surviving changing climates is unknown, but theory predicts that strategies prioritizing maintenance and survival over current reproduction should be better able to withstand such change. We tested this hypothesis in a meta-population of garter snakes having naturally occurring variation in life-history strategies. We tested whether slow pace-of-life (POL) animals, that prioritize survival over reproduction, are more resilient than fast POL animals as measured by several physiological biomarkers. From 2006 to 2019, which included two multi-year droughts, baseline and stress-induced reactivity of plasma corticosterone and glucose varied annually with directionalities consistent with life-history theory. Slow POL animals exhibited higher baseline corticosterone and lower baseline glucose, relative to fast POL animals. These patterns were also observed in stress-induced measures; thus, reactivity was equivalent between ecotypes. However, in drought years, measures of corticosterone did not differ between different life histories. Immune cell distribution showed annual variation independent of drought or life history. These persistent physiological patterns form a backdrop to several extirpations of fast POL populations, suggesting a limited physiological toolkit to surviving periods of extreme drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn G. Holden
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 2200 Osborn Drive, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Eric J. Gangloff
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 2200 Osborn Drive, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - David A. W. Miller
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Ashley R. Hedrick
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 2200 Osborn Drive, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Carli Dinsmore
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Alison Basel
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 2200 Osborn Drive, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Greta Kutz
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 2200 Osborn Drive, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Anne M. Bronikowski
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 2200 Osborn Drive, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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13
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Gaviria-Hernández J, Páez VP, Ramírez DM, Ceballos CP. Embryo Development and Sex Ratios in the Red-Footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) at Masculinizing Temperatures. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1441.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Gaviria-Hernández
- Grupo GAMMA, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 N° 52-21, Medellín, Colombia [; ]
| | - Vivian P. Páez
- Grupo Herpetológico de Antioquia, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 N° 52-21, Medellín, Colombia []
| | - Diber M. Ramírez
- Centro de Atención y Valoración del Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, Medellín, Colombia []
| | - Claudia P. Ceballos
- Grupo GAMMA, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 N° 52-21, Medellín, Colombia [; ]
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14
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Combrink LL, Bronikowski AM, Miller DAW, Sparkman AM. Current and time-lagged effects of climate on innate immunity in two sympatric snake species. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3239-3250. [PMID: 33841780 PMCID: PMC8019058 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Changing environments result in alterations at all levels of biological organization, from genetics to physiology to demography. The increasing frequency of droughts worldwide is associated with higher temperatures and reduced precipitation that can impact population persistence via effects on individual immune function and survival.We examined the effects of annual climate variation on immunity in two sympatric species of garter snakes from four populations in California over a seven-year period that included the record-breaking drought.We examined three indices of innate immunity: bactericidal competence (BC), natural antibodies (NABs), and complement-mediated lysis (CL).Precipitation was the only climatic variable explaining variation in immune function: spring precipitation of the current year was positively correlated to Thamnophis sirtalis BC and NABs, whereas spring precipitation of the previous year was positively correlated to T. elegans BC and NABs. This suggests that T. elegans experiences a physiological time-lag in response to reduced precipitation, which may reflect lack of capital for investment in immunity in the year following a dry year.In general, our findings demonstrate compelling evidence that climate can influence wild populations through effects on physiological processes, suggesting that physiological indices such as these may offer valuable opportunities for monitoring the effects of climate.
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15
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Hedrick AR, Greene DU, Lewis EL, Hood AS, Iverson JB. Climate effects on nesting phenology in Nebraska turtles. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:1225-1239. [PMID: 33598126 PMCID: PMC7863389 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A frequent response of organisms to climate change is altering the timing of reproduction, and advancement of reproductive timing has been a common reaction to warming temperatures in temperate regions. We tested whether this pattern applied to two common North American turtle species over the past three decades in Nebraska, USA. The timing of nesting (either first date or average date) of the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was negatively correlated with mean December maximum temperatures of the preceding year and mean May minimum and maximum temperatures in the nesting year and positively correlated with precipitation in July of the previous year. Increased temperatures during the late winter and spring likely permit earlier emergence from hibernation, increased metabolic rates and feeding opportunities, and accelerated vitellogenesis, ovulation, and egg shelling, all of which could drive earlier nesting. However, for the Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), the timing of nesting was positively correlated with mean minimum temperatures in September, October, December of the previous year, February of the nesting year, and April precipitation. These results suggest warmer fall, and winter temperature may impose an increased metabolic cost to painted turtles that impedes fall vitellogenesis, and April rains may slow the completion of vitellogenesis through decreased basking opportunities. For both species, nest deposition was highly correlated with body size, and larger females nested earlier in the season. Although average annual ambient temperatures have increased over the last four decades of our overall fieldwork at our study site, spring temperatures have not yet increased, and hence, nesting phenology has not advanced at our site for Chelydra. While Chrysemys exhibited a weak trend toward later nesting, this response was likely due to increased recruitment of smaller females into the population due to nest protection and predator control (Procyon lotor) in the early 2000s. Should climate change result in an increase in spring temperatures, nesting phenology would presumably respond accordingly, conditional on body size variation within these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R. Hedrick
- Department of BiologyEarlham CollegeRichmondINUSA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal BiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIAUSA
| | | | - Erin L. Lewis
- Department of BiologyEarlham CollegeRichmondINUSA
- Department of BiologyUtah State UniversityLoganUTUSA
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16
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Modeling Onset of Hourly Nesting Activity in a Freshwater Turtle Using Abiotic Variables and Physiological Capacity. J HERPETOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1670/19-046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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17
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Coleman AT. Urban Turtle Project: Using Citizen Science to Document Freshwater Turtle Communities and Populations in Birmingham, Alabama, with Focus on Alabama Map Turtles (Graptemys pulchra). CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1427.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Coleman
- Talladega College, Talladega, Alabama 35160 USA []; Urban Turtle Project []
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18
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Byer NW, Reid BN, Thiel RP, Peery MZ. Strong Climate Associations but No Temporal Trends in Nesting Phenology of Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). HERPETOLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-20-00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W. Byer
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada–Reno, Reno, NV 89503, USA
| | - Brendan N. Reid
- W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA
| | - Richard P. Thiel
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 7167 Deuce Road, Tomah, WI 54660, USA
| | - M. Zachariah Peery
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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19
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Hatchling turtles ingest natural and artificial incubation substrates at high frequency. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02913-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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20
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Connoy JW, Leivesley JA, Brooks RJ, Litzgus JD, Rollinson N. Body size of ectotherms constrains thermal requirements for reproductive activity in seasonal environments. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Body size may influence ectotherm behaviour by influencing heating and cooling rates, thereby constraining the time of day that some individuals can be active. The time of day at which turtles nest, for instance, is hypothesized to vary with body size at both inter- and intra-specific levels because large individuals have greater thermal inertia, retaining preferred body temperatures for a longer period of time. We use decades of data on thousands of individual nests from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, to explore how body size is associated with nesting behaviour in Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta (Schneider, 1783); small bodied) and Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758); large bodied). We found that (i) between species, Painted Turtles nest earlier in the evening and at higher mean temperatures than Snapping Turtles, and (ii) within species, relatively large individuals of both species nest at cooler temperatures and that relatively larger Painted Turtles nest later in the evening compared with smaller Painted Turtles. Our data support the thermal inertia hypothesis and may help explain why turtles in general exhibit geographic clines in body size: northern environments experience more daily variation in temperature, and larger size may evolve, in part, for retention of preferred body temperature during terrestrial forays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared W.H. Connoy
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 33 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Jessica A. Leivesley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Ronald J. Brooks
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jacqueline D. Litzgus
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Njal Rollinson
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 33 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
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21
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Taylor EN, Diele‐Viegas LM, Gangloff EJ, Hall JM, Halpern B, Massey MD, Rödder D, Rollinson N, Spears S, Sun B, Telemeco RS. The thermal ecology and physiology of reptiles and amphibians: A user's guide. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:13-44. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily N. Taylor
- Biological Sciences Department California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo California
| | | | | | - Joshua M. Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama
| | | | - Melanie D. Massey
- Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
| | - Dennis Rödder
- Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig Bonn Germany
| | - Njal Rollinson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto St. Toronto Ontario Canada
- School of the Environment University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Sierra Spears
- Department of Zoology Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware Ohio
| | - Bao‐jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Rory S. Telemeco
- Department of Biology California State University Fresno California
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22
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Prodon R, Geniez P, Cheylan M, Besnard A. Amphibian and reptile phenology: the end of the warming hiatus and the influence of the NAO in the North Mediterranean. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2020; 64:423-432. [PMID: 31734817 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-019-01827-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the south of France, the so-called climate hiatus from 1998 to 2013 was associated with a late winter cooling which has affected the phenology of several reptiles and amphibian species, delaying their dates of first appearances in spring. This episode has been related to a period of frequently negative values of the North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAOi). The recent increase of this index after this episode marks the end of the "hiatus" and provides an opportunity to verify the impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the fauna of the North Mediterranean region. Most of the emergence dates of amphibians and reptiles in spring have rapidly advanced from 1983 to 1997 and then receded or stabilized from 1998 to 2010. They began to advance again since 2010. These phenological changes covary with the temperature of February-March in the study area, which is itself related to the variations of the NAO index. These changes confirm the influence of the NAO on the phenology of terrestrial organisms in northern Mediterranean where its influence is sometimes assumed to be attenuated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Prodon
- EPHE, UMR 5175 CEFE, CNRS, IRD, Biogéographie et Écologie des Vertébrés, PSL Research University, University of Montpellier, Paul Valéry University, SupAgro, INRA, 34293, Montpellier, France.
| | - Philippe Geniez
- EPHE, UMR 5175 CEFE, CNRS, IRD, Biogéographie et Écologie des Vertébrés, PSL Research University, University of Montpellier, Paul Valéry University, SupAgro, INRA, 34293, Montpellier, France
| | - Marc Cheylan
- EPHE, UMR 5175 CEFE, CNRS, IRD, Biogéographie et Écologie des Vertébrés, PSL Research University, University of Montpellier, Paul Valéry University, SupAgro, INRA, 34293, Montpellier, France
| | - Aurélien Besnard
- EPHE, UMR 5175 CEFE, CNRS, IRD, Biogéographie et Écologie des Vertébrés, PSL Research University, University of Montpellier, Paul Valéry University, SupAgro, INRA, 34293, Montpellier, France
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23
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Muñoz-Mas R, García-Berthou E. Alien animal introductions in Iberian inland waters: An update and analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 703:134505. [PMID: 31734502 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Inland waters provide innumerable ecosystem services and for this reason are among the most negatively impacted ecosystems worldwide. This is also the case with invasive alien species, which have enormous economic and ecological impacts in freshwater ecosystems. The pace of alien introductions has not decreased in recent years and the first step to their management is to update checklists and to determine introduction pathways and origins of species. This study updates the list of alien animal species introduced and naturalised in inland waters of the Iberian Peninsula. Additionally, the most relevant characteristics and association patterns of these species (region of origin, taxonomic group, introduction pathway and main habitat) and introduction trends in the Iberian Peninsula, mainland Portugal and Galicia are analysed. We identified 125 alien animal species introduced in Iberian inland waters (increase of 30% compared to previous reviews) whereas 24 additional species have uncertain establishment or native status. We found marked associations among taxonomic groups and their region of origin, introduction pathway and main habitat used but less relationship between these three latter features. Considering the whole territory of the Iberian Peninsula, the introduction rates seem to be experiencing a decrease or to have achieved stabilization. However, this is not applicable to mainland Portugal and Galicia for which the historical delay in the first record dates for alien species is fading-out, suggesting increasing spread rates. Our results should facilitate early detections and the design of prevention protocols and taxon-specific management plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Muñoz-Mas
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain.
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24
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A Low-Cost, Efficient, and Precise Technique to Quantify Key Life Cycle Events in Nests of Oviparous Reptiles. J HERPETOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1670/18-168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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25
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Reinke BA, Miller DA, Janzen FJ. What Have Long-Term Field Studies Taught Us About Population Dynamics? ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2019. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110218-024717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Long-term studies have been crucial to the advancement of population biology, especially our understanding of population dynamics. We argue that this progress arises from three key characteristics of long-term research. First, long-term data are necessary to observe the heterogeneity that drives most population processes. Second, long-term studies often inherently lead to novel insights. Finally, long-term field studies can serve as model systems for population biology, allowing for theory and methods to be tested under well-characterized conditions. We illustrate these ideas in three long-term field systems that have made outsized contributions to our understanding of population ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. We then highlight three emerging areas to which long-term field studies are well positioned to contribute in the future: ecological forecasting, genomics, and macrosystems ecology. Overcoming the obstacles associated with maintaining long-term studies requires continued emphasis on recognizing the benefits of such studies to ensure that long-term research continues to have a substantial impact on elucidating population biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A. Reinke
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - David A.W. Miller
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Fredric J. Janzen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
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26
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Abstract
Climate change is occurring at an unprecedented rate and has begun to modify the distribution and phenology of organisms worldwide. Chelonians are expected to be particularly vulnerable due to limited dispersal capabilities as well as widespread temperature-dependent sex determination. The number of papers published about the effects of climate change on turtles has increased exponentially over the last decade; here, I review the data from peer-reviewed publications to assess the likely impacts of climate change on individuals, populations, and communities. Based upon these studies future research should focus on: (1) Individual responses to climate change, particularly with respect to thermal biology, phenology, and microhabitat selection; (2) improving species distribution models by incorporating fine-scale environmental variables as well as physiological processes; (3) identifying the consequences of skewed sex ratios; and (4) assessments of community resilience and the development of methods to mitigate climate change impacts. Although detailed management recommendations are not possible at this point, careful consideration should be given regarding how to manage low vagility species as habitats shift poleward. In the worst-case scenario, proactive management may be required in order to ensure that widespread losses do not occur.
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27
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Long-Term Variation in Survival of A Neotropical Freshwater Turtle: Habitat and Climatic Influences. DIVERSITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11060097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Few long-term demographic studies have been conducted on freshwater turtles of South America, despite the need for this type of inquiry to investigate natural variation and strengthen conservation efforts for these species. In this study, we examined the variation in demography of the Chocoan River Turtle (Rhinoclemmys nasuta) based on a population from an island locality in the Colombian Pacific region between 2005 and 2017. We calculated survival, recapture, and transition probabilities, and the effects of stream substrate and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases (El Niño, Neutral, La Niña) on these variables using a multi-state model. We found differences in survival probabilities between ENSO phases, likely as a consequence of an increase in flood events. In addition, we found support for survival being greater in muddy streams than rocky streams, possibly because it is easier to escape or hide in mud substrates. Recapture probabilities varied by life stages; differences in the probability of recapture between size classes were associated with the high fidelity to territories by adults. The present increases in frequency and severity of El Niño and La Niña may exacerbate the consequences of climatic regimes on natural populations of turtles by increasing the mortality caused by drastic phenomena such as floods.
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28
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Bodensteiner BL, Warner DA, Iverson JB, Milne‐Zelman CL, Mitchell TS, Refsnider JM, Janzen FJ. Geographic variation in thermal sensitivity of early life traits in a widespread reptile. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:2791-2802. [PMID: 30891217 PMCID: PMC6405489 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Taxa with large geographic distributions generally encompass diverse macroclimatic conditions, potentially requiring local adaptation and/or phenotypic plasticity to match their phenotypes to differing environments. These eco-evolutionary processes are of particular interest in organisms with traits that are directly affected by temperature, such as embryonic development in oviparous ectotherms. Here we examine the spatial distribution of fitness-related early life phenotypes across the range of a widespread vertebrate, the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta). We quantified embryonic and hatchling traits from seven locations (in Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, and New Mexico) after incubating eggs under constant conditions across a series of environmentally relevant temperatures. Thermal reaction norms for incubation duration and hatchling mass varied among locations under this common-garden experiment, indicating genetic differentiation or pre-ovulatory maternal effects. However, latitude, a commonly used proxy for geographic variation, was not a strong predictor of these geographic differences. Our findings suggest that this macroclimatic proxy may be an unreliable surrogate for microclimatic conditions experienced locally in nests. Instead, complex interactions between abiotic and biotic factors likely drive among-population phenotypic variation in this system. Understanding spatial variation in key life-history traits provides an important perspective on adaptation to contemporary and future climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke L. Bodensteiner
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Organismal BiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIowa
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVirginia
| | | | | | | | - Timothy S. Mitchell
- Department of Ecology Evolution and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesota
| | | | - Fredric J. Janzen
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Organismal BiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIowa
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