1
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Wu DY, Han XZ, Li T, Sun BJ, Qin XY. How incubation temperature affects hatchling performance in reptiles: an integrative insight based on plasticity in metabolic enzyme. Curr Zool 2024; 70:195-203. [PMID: 38726248 PMCID: PMC11078047 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Evaluating the effects of temperature variations on animals plays an important role in understanding the threat of climate warming. The effects of developmental temperature on offspring performance are critical in evaluating the effects of warming temperatures on the fitness of oviparous species, but the physiological and biochemical basis of this developmental plasticity is largely unknown. In this study, we incubated eggs of the turtle Pelodiscus sinensis at low (24 °C), medium (28 °C), and high (32 °C) temperatures, and evaluated the effects of developmental temperature on offspring fitness, and metabolic enzymes in the neck and limb muscles of hatchlings. The hatchlings from eggs incubated at the medium temperature showed better fitness-related performance (righting response and swimming capacity) and higher activities of metabolic enzymes (hexokinase, HK; lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) than hatchlings from the eggs incubated at high or low temperatures. In addition, the swimming speed and righting response were significantly correlated with the HK activities in limb (swimming speed) and neck (righting response) muscles, suggesting that the developmental plasticity of energy metabolic pathway might play a role in determining the way incubation temperature affects offspring phenotypes. Integrating the fitness-related performance and the activities of metabolic enzymes, we predict that the P. sinensis from high latitude would not face the detrimental effects of climate warming until the average nest temperatures reach 32 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Yang Wu
- College of Life and Environment Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservational Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xing-Zhi Han
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Teng Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Bao-Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservational Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Qin
- College of Life and Environment Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
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2
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Oskyrko O, Mi C, Meiri S, Du W. ReptTraits: a comprehensive dataset of ecological traits in reptiles. Sci Data 2024; 11:243. [PMID: 38413613 PMCID: PMC10899194 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03079-5] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Trait datasets are increasingly being used in studies investigating eco-evolutionary theory and global conservation initiatives. Reptiles are emerging as a key group for studying these questions because their traits are crucial for understanding the ability of animals to cope with environmental changes and their contributions to ecosystem processes. We collected data from earlier databases, and the primary literature to create an up-to-date dataset of reptilian traits, encompassing 40 traits from 12060 species of reptiles (Archelosauria: Crocodylia and Testudines, Rhynchocephalia, and Squamata: Amphisbaenia, Sauria, and Serpentes). The data were gathered from 1288 sources published between 1820 and 2023. The dataset includes morphological, physiological, behavioral, and life history traits, as well as information on the availability of genetic data, IUCN Red List assessments, and population trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandra Oskyrko
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunrong Mi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shai Meiri
- School of Zoology & the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Weiguo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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3
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Pettersen AK, Feiner N, Noble DWA, While GM, Uller T, Cornwallis CK. Maternal behavioral thermoregulation facilitated evolutionary transitions from egg laying to live birth. Evol Lett 2023; 7:351-360. [PMID: 37829499 PMCID: PMC10565886 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Live birth is a key innovation that has evolved from egg-laying ancestors over 100 times in reptiles. However, egg-laying lizards and snakes can have preferred body temperatures that are lethal to developing embryos, which should select against prolonged egg retention. Here, we demonstrate that thermal mismatches between mothers and offspring are widespread across the squamate phylogeny. This mismatch is resolved by gravid females adjusting their body temperature towards the thermal optimum of their embryos. We find that the same response occurs in both live-bearing and egg-laying species, despite the latter only retaining embryos during the early stages of development. Importantly, phylogenetic reconstructions suggest this thermoregulatory behavior in gravid females evolved in egg-laying species prior to the evolution of live birth. Maternal thermoregulatory behavior, therefore, bypasses the constraints imposed by a slowly evolving thermal physiology and has likely been a key facilitator in the repeated transition to live birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Pettersen
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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4
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Ma L, Hou C, Jiang ZW, Du WG. Divergent effects of climate change on the egg-laying opportunity of species in cold and warm regions. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14056. [PMID: 36661061 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Climate warming can substantially impact embryonic development and juvenile growth in oviparous species. Estimating the overall impacts of climate warming on oviparous reproduction is difficult because egg-laying events happen throughout the reproductive season. Successful egg laying requires the completion of embryonic development as well as hatching timing conducive to offspring survival and energy accumulation. We propose a new metric-egg-laying opportunity (EO)-to estimate the annual hours during which a clutch of freshly laid eggs yields surviving offspring that store sufficient energy for overwintering. We estimated the EO within the distribution of a model species, Sceloporus undulatus, under recent climate condition and a climate-warming scenario by combining microclimate data, developmental functions, and biophysical models. We predicted that EO will decline as the climate warms at 74.8% of 11,407 sites. Decreasing hatching success and offspring energy accounted for more lost EO hours (72.6% and 72.9%) than the occurrence of offspring heat stress (59.9%). Nesting deeper (at a depth of 12 cm) may be a more effective behavioral adjustment for retaining EO than using shadier (50% shade) nests because the former fully mitigated the decline of EO under the considered warming scenario at more sites (66.1%) than the latter (28.3%). We advocate for the use of EO in predicting the impacts of climate warming on oviparous animals because it encapsulates the integrative impacts of climate warming on all stages of reproductive life history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Chao Hou
- School of Science, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong-Wen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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5
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Cui L, Yang C, Zhang D, Lin S, Zhao W, Liu P. Beneficial Effects of Warming Temperatures on Embryonic and Hatchling Development in a Low-Latitude Margin Population of the High-Latitude Lizard Lacerta agilis. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.845309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of warming temperatures on embryonic and hatchling development are critical for determining the vulnerability of species to climate warming. However, these effects have rarely been investigated in high-latitude oviparous species, particularly in their low-latitude margin populations. This study investigated the embryonic and hatchling development and fitness-related traits of a low-latitude margin population of a high-latitude lizard (Lacerta agilis). These traits were examined under present (24°C), moderate warming (27 and 30°C), and severe warming scenarios (33°C). Based on embryonic and hatchling responses to thermal variation, this study aimed to predict the vulnerability of the early life stages of low-latitude margin population of Lacerta agilis to climate warming. The incubation period of the low-latitude margin population of Lacerta agilis decreased as the temperature increased from 24 to 33°C. Hatching success was similar at 24, 27, and 30°C but decreased significantly at 33°C. No differences with temperature were observed for hatchling snout-vent length and hatchling body mass. The sprint speed was higher for hatchlings from temperatures of 24 and 33°C. The growth rate of hatchlings was highest at 30°C; however, the survival rate of hatchlings was not affected by the thermal environment. This study demonstrated that even for a low-latitude margin population of the high-latitude lizard, Lacerta agilis, moderate warming (i.e., 27 and 30°C) would benefit embryonic and hatchling development. This was indicated by the results showing higher hatching success, growth rate, and survival rate. However, if temperatures increase above 33°C, development and survival would be depressed significantly. Thus, low-latitude margin population of high-latitude species Lacerta agilis would benefit from climate warming in the near future but would be under stress if the nest temperature exceeded 30°C.
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6
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Schwanz LE, Gunderson A, Iglesias-Carrasco M, Johnson MA, Kong JD, Riley J, Wu NC. Best practices for building and curating databases for comparative analyses. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274297. [PMID: 35258608 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Comparative analyses have a long history of macro-ecological and -evolutionary approaches to understand structure, function, mechanism and constraint. As the pace of science accelerates, there is ever-increasing access to diverse types of data and open access databases that are enabling and inspiring new research. Whether conducting a species-level trait-based analysis or a formal meta-analysis of study effect sizes, comparative approaches share a common reliance on reliable, carefully curated databases. Unlike many scientific endeavors, building a database is a process that many researchers undertake infrequently and in which we are not formally trained. This Commentary provides an introduction to building databases for comparative analyses and highlights challenges and solutions that the authors of this Commentary have faced in their own experiences. We focus on four major tips: (1) carefully strategizing the literature search; (2) structuring databases for multiple use; (3) establishing version control within (and beyond) your study; and (4) the importance of making databases accessible. We highlight how one's approach to these tasks often depends on the goal of the study and the nature of the data. Finally, we assert that the curation of single-question databases has several disadvantages: it limits the possibility of using databases for multiple purposes and decreases efficiency due to independent researchers repeatedly sifting through large volumes of raw information. We argue that curating databases that are broader than one research question can provide a large return on investment, and that research fields could increase efficiency if community curation of databases was established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E Schwanz
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, and the School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2035, Australia
| | - Alex Gunderson
- School of Science and Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Maider Iglesias-Carrasco
- Ecology and Evolution of Sexual Interactions group, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, Sevilla 41001, Spain
| | - Michele A Johnson
- Department of Biology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
| | - Jacinta D Kong
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Julia Riley
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, E4L 1E4, Canada
| | - Nicholas C Wu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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7
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Raynal RS, Noble DWA, Riley JL, Senior AM, Warner DA, While GM, Schwanz LE. Impact of fluctuating developmental temperatures on phenotypic traits in reptiles: a meta-analysis. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274260. [PMID: 35258602 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
During the vulnerable stages of early life, most ectothermic animals experience hourly and diel fluctuations in temperature as air temperatures change. While we know a great deal about how different constant temperatures impact the phenotypes of developing ectotherms, we know remarkably little about the impacts of temperature fluctuations on the development of ectotherms. In this study, we used a meta-analytic approach to compare the mean and variance of phenotypic outcomes from constant and fluctuating incubation temperatures across reptile species. We found that fluctuating temperatures provided a small benefit (higher hatching success and shorter incubation durations) at cool mean temperatures compared with constant temperatures, but had a negative effect at warm mean temperatures. In addition, more extreme temperature fluctuations led to greater reductions in embryonic survival compared with moderate temperature fluctuations. Within the limited data available from species with temperature-dependent sex determination, embryos had a higher chance of developing as female when developing in fluctuating temperatures compared with those developing in constant temperatures. With our meta-analytic approach, we identified average mean nest temperatures across all taxa where reptiles switch from receiving benefits to incurring costs when incubation temperatures fluctuate. More broadly, our study indicates that the impact of fluctuating developmental temperature on some phenotypes in ectothermic taxa are likely to be predictable via integration of developmental temperature profiles with thermal performance curves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Raynal
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Julia L Riley
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada, E4L 1E2
| | - Alistair M Senior
- Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Daniel A Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Geoffrey M While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Lisa E Schwanz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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8
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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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9
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ROSIE, a database of reptilian offspring sex ratios and sex-determining mechanisms, beginning with Testudines. Sci Data 2022; 9:22. [PMID: 35064124 PMCID: PMC8782934 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-021-01108-1] [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: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to genotypic sex determination (GSD), temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in amniotic vertebrates eludes intuitive connections to Fisherian sex-ratio theory. Attempts to draw such connections have driven over 50 years of research on the evolution of sex-determining mechanisms (SDM), perhaps most prominently among species in the order Testudines. Despite regular advancements in our understanding of this topic, no efforts have been published compiling the entirety of data on the relationships between incubation temperature and offspring sex in any taxonomic group. Here, we present the Reptilian Offspring Sex and Incubation Environment (ROSIE) database, a comprehensive set of over 7,000 individual measurements of offspring sex ratios in the order Testudines as well as SDM classifications for 149 species. As the name suggests, we plan to expand the taxonomic coverage of ROSIE to include all non-avian reptiles and will regularly release updates to maintain its comprehensive nature. This resource will enable crucial future research probing the ecology and evolution of SDM, including the presumed sensitivity of TSD to rapid environmental change. Measurement(s) | sex-determining mechanism • offspring sex ratio • sex determination • incubation environment | Technology Type(s) | systematic review study design | Sample Characteristic - Organism | Testudines • Reptile |
Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.16415784
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10
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Noble DWA, Senior AM, Uller T, Schwanz LE. Heightened among-individual variation in life history but not morphology is related to developmental temperature in reptiles. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1793-1802. [PMID: 34543488 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Increases in phenotypic variation under extreme (e.g. novel or stressful) environmental conditions are emerging as a crucial process through which evolutionary adaptation can occur. Lack of prior stabilizing selection, as well as potential instability of developmental processes in these environments, may lead to a release of phenotypic variation that can have important evolutionary consequences. Although such patterns have been shown in model study organisms, we know little about the generality of trait variance across environments for non-model organisms. Here, we test whether extreme developmental temperatures increase the phenotypic variation across diverse reptile taxa. We find that the among-individual variation in a key life-history trait (post-hatching growth) increases at extreme cold and hot temperatures. However, variations in two measures of hatchling morphology and in hatchling performance were not related to developmental temperature. Although extreme developmental temperatures may increase the variation in growth, our results suggest that plastic responses to stressful incubation conditions do not generally make more extreme phenotypes available to selection. We discuss the reasons for the general lack of increased variability at extreme incubation temperatures and the implications this has for local adaptation in hatchling morphology and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alistair M Senior
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Skåne, Sweden
| | - Lisa E Schwanz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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11
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Lawson L, Rollinson N. A simple model for the evolution of temperature-dependent sex determination explains the temperature sensitivity of embryonic mortality in imperiled reptiles. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab020. [PMID: 33996099 PMCID: PMC8111383 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A common reptile conservation strategy involves artificial incubation of embryos and release of hatchlings or juveniles into wild populations. Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) occurs in most chelonians, permitting conservation managers to bias sex ratios towards females by incubating embryos at high temperatures, ultimately allowing the introduction of more egg-bearing individuals into populations. Here, we revisit classic sex allocation theory and hypothesize that TSD evolved in some reptile groups (specifically, chelonians and crocodilians) because male fitness is more sensitive to condition (general health, vigor) than female fitness. It follows that males benefit more than females from incubation environments that confer high-quality phenotypes, and hence high-condition individuals. We predict that female-producing temperatures, which comprise relatively high incubation temperatures in chelonians and crocodilians, are relatively stressful for embryos and subsequent life stages. We synthesize data from 28 studies to investigate how constant temperature incubation affects embryonic mortality in chelonians with TSD. We find several lines of evidence suggesting that warm, female-producing temperatures are more stressful than cool, male-producing temperatures. Further, we find some evidence that pivotal temperatures (TPiv, the temperature that produces a 1:1 sex ratio) may exhibit a correlated evolution with embryonic thermal tolerance. If patterns of temperature-sensitive embryonic mortality are also indicative of chronic thermal stress that occurs post-hatching, then conservation programs may benefit from incubating eggs close to species-specific TPivs, thus avoiding high-temperature incubation. Indeed, our models predict that, on average, a sex ratio of >75% females can generally be achieved by incubating eggs only 1°C above TPiv. Of equal importance, we provide insight into the enigmatic evolution of TSD in chelonians, by providing support to the hypothesis that TSD evolution is related to the quality of the phenotype conferred by incubation temperature, with males produced in high-quality incubation environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Lawson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St., Room 3055, Toronto ON, Canada M5S 3B2
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks St., Suite 1016V, Toronto ON, Canada M5S 3E8
| | - Njal Rollinson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St., Room 3055, Toronto ON, Canada M5S 3B2
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks St., Suite 1016V, Toronto ON, Canada M5S 3E8
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12
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Rueda-Zozaya P, Plasman M, Reynoso VH. Good alimentation can overcome the negative effects of climate change on growth in reptiles. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Climate change may lead to higher nest temperatures, which may increase embryo development rate but reduce hatchling size and growth. Larger body size permits better performance, making growth an important fitness trait. In ectotherms, growth is affected by temperature and food quality. To segregate the effects of incubation temperature vs. alimentation on the growth of the Mexican black spiny-tailed iguana, Ctenosaura pectinata, we incubated eggs at 29 or 32 °C, and hatchlings were kept at 30 °C and fed either high- or low-quality food for 1 year, with body size and mass being recorded every 2 weeks. Iguanas incubated at 29 °C grew faster than those incubated at 32 °C. However, food quality had a larger effect on growth than incubation temperature; iguanas fed with high-quality food reached larger body sizes. Growth models suggested that differences in growth between incubation temperatures and food types remain throughout their lives. We found that incubation temperature had long-lasting effects on an ectotherm, and higher incubation temperatures might lead to reduced growth and maturation at a later age. However, food might transcend the effect of increased incubation temperature; therefore, good alimentation might mitigate effects of climate change on growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rueda-Zozaya
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Melissa Plasman
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Víctor Hugo Reynoso
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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13
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Carter AL, Janzen FJ. Predicting the effects of climate change on incubation in reptiles: methodological advances and new directions. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:224/Suppl_1/jeb236018. [PMID: 33627463 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.236018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The unprecedented advancement of global climate change is affecting thermal conditions across spatial and temporal scales. Reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) are uniquely vulnerable to even fine-scale variation in incubation conditions and are a model system for investigating the impacts of shifting temperatures on key physiological and life-history traits. The ways in which current and predicted future climatic conditions translate from macro- to ultra-fine scale temperature traces in subterranean nests is insufficiently understood. Reliably predicting the ways in which fine-scale, daily and seasonally fluctuating nest temperatures influence embryonic development and offspring phenotypes is a goal that remains constrained by many of the same logistical challenges that have persisted throughout more than four decades of research on TSD. However, recent advances in microclimate and developmental modeling should allow us to move farther away from relatively coarse metrics with limited predictive capacity and towards a fully mechanistic model of TSD that can predict incubation conditions and phenotypic outcomes for a variety of reptile species across space and time and for any climate scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Carter
- Michigan State University, Kellogg Biological Station, 3700 E Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA.,Iowa State University, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, 2200 Osborn Drive, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Fredric J Janzen
- Michigan State University, Kellogg Biological Station, 3700 E Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA .,Iowa State University, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, 2200 Osborn Drive, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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14
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Massey MD, Hutchings JA. Thermal variability during ectotherm egg incubation: A synthesis and framework. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:59-71. [PMID: 32767534 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Natural populations of ectothermic oviparous vertebrates typically experience thermal variability in their incubation environment. Yet an overwhelming number of laboratory studies incubate animals under constant thermal conditions that cannot capture natural thermal variability. Here, we systematically searched for studies that incubated eggs of ectothermic vertebrates, including both fishes and herpetofauna, under thermally variable regimes. We ultimately developed a compendium of 66 studies that used thermally variable conditions for egg incubation. In this review, we qualitatively discuss key findings from literature in the compendium, including the phenotypic effects resulting from different patterns of thermally variable incubation, as well as the ontogenetic persistence of these effects. We also describe a physiological framework for contextualizing some of these effects, based on thermal performance theory. Lastly, we highlight key gaps in our understanding of thermally variable incubation and offer suggestions for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie D Massey
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jeffrey A Hutchings
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Flødevigen Marine Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
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15
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Hall JM, Sun BJ. Heat tolerance of reptile embryos: Current knowledge, methodological considerations, and future directions. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:45-58. [PMID: 32757379 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aspects of global change result in warming temperatures that threaten biodiversity across the planet. Eggs of non-avian, oviparous reptiles (henceforth "reptiles") are particularly vulnerable to warming due to a lack of parental care during incubation and limited ability to behaviorally thermoregulate. Because warming temperatures will cause increases in both mean and variance of nest temperatures, it is crucial to consider embryo responses to both chronic and acute heat stress. Although many studies have considered embryo survival across constant incubation temperatures (i.e., chronic stress) and in response to brief exposure to extreme temperatures (i.e., acute stress), there are no standard metrics or terminology for determining heat stress of embryos. This impedes comparisons across studies and species and hinders our ability to predict how species will respond to global change. In this review, we compare various methods that have been used to assess embryonic heat tolerance in reptiles and provide new terminology and metrics for quantifying embryo responses to both chronic and acute heat stress. We apply these recommendations to data from the literature to assess chronic heat tolerance in 16 squamates, 16 turtles, five crocodilians, and the tuatara and acute heat tolerance for nine squamates and one turtle. Our results indicate that there is relatively large variation in chronic and acute heat tolerance across species, and we outline directions for future research, calling for more studies that assess embryo responses to acute thermal stress, integrate embryo responses to chronic and acute temperatures in predictive models, and identify mechanisms that determine heat tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Bao-Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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16
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Singh SK, Das D, Rhen T. Embryonic Temperature Programs Phenotype in Reptiles. Front Physiol 2020; 11:35. [PMID: 32082193 PMCID: PMC7005678 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reptiles are critically affected by temperature throughout their lifespan, but especially so during early development. Temperature-induced changes in phenotype are a specific example of a broader phenomenon called phenotypic plasticity in which a single individual is able to develop different phenotypes when exposed to different environments. With climate change occurring at an unprecedented rate, it is important to study temperature effects on reptiles. For example, the potential impact of global warming is especially pronounced in species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) because temperature has a direct effect on a key phenotypic (sex) and demographic (population sex ratios) trait. Reptiles with TSD also serve as models for studying temperature effects on the development of other traits that display continuous variation. Temperature directly influences metabolic and developmental rate of embryos and can have permanent effects on phenotype that last beyond the embryonic period. For instance, incubation temperature programs post-hatching hormone production and growth physiology, which can profoundly influence fitness. Here, we review current knowledge of temperature effects on phenotypic and developmental plasticity in reptiles. First, we examine the direct effect of temperature on biophysical processes, the concept of thermal performance curves, and the process of thermal acclimation. After discussing these reversible temperature effects, we focus the bulk of the review on developmental programming of phenotype by temperature during embryogenesis (i.e., permanent developmental effects). We focus on oviparous species because eggs are especially susceptible to changes in ambient temperature. We then discuss recent work probing the role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating temperature effects on phenotype. Based on phenotypic effects of temperature, we return to the potential impact of global warming on reptiles. Finally, we highlight key areas for future research, including the identification of temperature sensors and assessment of genetic variation for thermosensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Turk Rhen
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
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17
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Waller JT, Willink B, Tschol M, Svensson EI. The odonate phenotypic database, a new open data resource for comparative studies of an old insect order. Sci Data 2019; 6:316. [PMID: 31831730 PMCID: PMC6908694 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-019-0318-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We present The Odonate Phenotypic Database (OPD): an online data resource of dragonfly and damselfly phenotypes (Insecta: Odonata). Odonata is a relatively small insect order that currently consists of about 6400 species belonging to 32 families. The database consists of multiple morphological, life-history and behavioral traits, and biogeographical information collected from literature sources. We see taxon-specific phenotypic databases from Odonata and other organismal groups as becoming an increasing valuable resource in comparative studies. Our database has phenotypic records for 1011 of all 6400 known odonate species. The database is accessible at http://www.odonatephenotypicdatabase.org/, and a static version with an information file about the variables in the database is archived at Dryad.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Waller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), GBIF Secretariat Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Beatriz Willink
- Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden
- School of Biology, University of Costa Rica, San Jose, 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - Maximilian Tschol
- Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Erik I Svensson
- Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden.
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18
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Lafuente E, Beldade P. Genomics of Developmental Plasticity in Animals. Front Genet 2019; 10:720. [PMID: 31481970 PMCID: PMC6709652 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental plasticity refers to the property by which the same genotype produces distinct phenotypes depending on the environmental conditions under which development takes place. By allowing organisms to produce phenotypes adjusted to the conditions that adults will experience, developmental plasticity can provide the means to cope with environmental heterogeneity. Developmental plasticity can be adaptive and its evolution can be shaped by natural selection. It has also been suggested that developmental plasticity can facilitate adaptation and promote diversification. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the evolution of plasticity and on the impact of plasticity on adaptive evolution, and we identify recent advances and important open questions about the genomics of developmental plasticity in animals. We give special attention to studies using transcriptomics to identify genes whose expression changes across developmental environments and studies using genetic mapping to identify loci that contribute to variation in plasticity and can fuel its evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrícia Beldade
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- CNRS-UMR5174, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Changes, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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19
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Warner DA, Du WG, Georges A. Introduction to the special issue-Developmental plasticity in reptiles: Physiological mechanisms and ecological consequences. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2018; 329:153-161. [PMID: 29956505 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Scientific interest in developmental plasticity spans many disciplines, and research on reptiles has provided many insights into this field. We highlight these contributions, review the field's history, and introduce the special issue on this topic .
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Wei-Guo Du
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
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20
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While GM, Noble DW, Uller T, Warner DA, Riley JL, Du W, Schwanz LE. Patterns of developmental plasticity in response to incubation temperature in reptiles. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2018; 329:162-176. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey M. While
- School of Biological Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Australia
| | - Daniel W.A. Noble
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Daniel A. Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama
| | - Julia L. Riley
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney Australia
| | - Wei‐Guo Du
- Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Lisa E. Schwanz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
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