Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Allman, P. E., Place, A. R., & Roosenburg, W. M. , Understanding the evolution of egg size in the diamondback terrapin, malaclemys terrapin. Paper presented at Turtle Survival Alliance 2007 Annual Meeting.
Added by: Admin (13 Dec 2008 16:50:04 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Allman2007 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Fortpflanzung = reproduction, Habitat = habitat, Malaclemys, Malaclemys terrapin, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Allman, Place, Roosenburg Collection: Turtle Survival Alliance 2007 Annual Meeting |
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| Abstract |
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Malaclemys terrapin Egg size in oviparous reptiles can significantly influence life history traits such as offspring size, growth, sex, survivorship, and ultimately individual fitness. For this reason, understanding the co-evolution of egg size and clutch size is central to life history theory. The diamondback terrapin is an emydid turtle that inhabits brackish water from the coastal region of New England through Texas in the United States. Females in northern populations lay relatively small eggs in large clutches whereas females in southern populations deposit large eggs in small clutches. Neutral-lipid extractions indicate that eggs from southern populations contain a higher proportion of yolk-lipids than eggs from northern populations. Under similar incubation conditions, eggs from southern populations produce larger hatchlings that have a proportionally higher lipid stores, a higher mass-specific metabolic rate, and a faster growth rate. A common garden design experiment indicates that larger hatchlings have a growth and survivorship advantage in warmer growth treatments. These data suggest an increased metabolic demand in the warmer climates of southern populations select for larger offspring in southern populations. This constraint is released in northern populations where metabolic demands decrease during hibernation. In northern populations, females can allocate less energy to each offspring allowing for higher clutch sizes and increased fecundity.
Added by: Admin |