Literaturdatenbank |
Baker, P. J., Costanzo, J. P., Iverson, J. B., & Lee, R. E. (2013). Seasonality and interspecific and intraspecific asynchrony in emergence from the nest by hatchling freshwater turtles. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 91(7), 451–461.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:24:00 UTC) |
Resource type: Journal Article DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2012-0335 BibTeX citation key: Baker2013 View all bibliographic details |
Categories: General Keywords: Chrysemys picta, Emydidae, Graptemys geographica, Habitat - habitat, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Trachemys scripta, Zeitigung - incubation Creators: Baker, Costanzo, Iverson, Lee Collection: Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Abstract |
Timing of emergence from the natal nest is a variable trait in the life history of turtles. In theory, hatchling turtles that emerge synchronously, within and among nests, should gain a survival advantage over hatchlings that emerge independently. We examined emergence patterns for seven species of freshwater turtles that use a common nesting area in northern Indiana, USA. Hatchlings of four species emerged from the nest exclusively in late summer or early fall. However, hatchlings of three species usually overwintered in the nest chamber and emerged the following spring. Interspecific and intraspecific emergence from the nest was more synchronous in fall than in spring. Average date of fall emergence from the nest did not vary among species; however, a species-specific pattern of emergence was observed in spring. Chrysemys picta marginata Agassiz, 1857 emerged in late March and early April and, on average, these hatchlings left their nests two weeks earlier than Graptemys geographica (Le Sueur, 1817) and four weeks earlier than Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839). Although hatchlings of C. picta are smaller than those of G. geographica and T. scripta, presumably they gain a survival or growth advantage by emerging earlier.
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