Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
|
 |
|
Zhao, B., Li, T., Shine, R., & Du, W.-G. (2013). Turtle embryos move to optimal thermal environments within the egg. Biology Letters, 9(4), Nr. 20130337.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:25:32 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0337 BibTeX citation key: Zhao2013 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Geoemydidae, Mauremys rivulata, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Zeitigung - incubation Creators: Du, Li, Shine, Zhao Collection: Biology Letters |
Views: 3/727
Views index: 14% Popularity index: 3.5% |
| Abstract |
|
A recent study demonstrated that the embryos of soft-shelled turtles can reposition themselves within their eggs to exploit locally warm conditions. In this paper, we ask whether turtle embryos actively seek out optimal thermal environments for their development, as do post-hatching individuals. Specifically, (i) do reptile embryos move away from dangerously high temperatures as well as towards warm temperatures? and (ii) is such embryonic movement due to active thermoregulation, or (more simply) to passive embryonic repositioning caused by local heat-induced changes in viscosity of fluids within the egg? Our experiments with an emydid turtle (Chinemys reevesii) show that embryos avoid dangerously high temperatures by moving to cooler regions of the egg. The repositioning of embryos is an active rather than passive process: live embryos move towards a heat source, whereas dead ones do not. Overall, our results suggest that behavioural thermoregulation by turtle embryos is genuinely analogous to the thermoregulatory behaviour exhibited by post-hatching ectotherms.
Added by: Admin |