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Incubation temperature alters stripe formation and head colouration in American alligator hatchlings and is unaffected by estradiol-induced sex reversal.

ABSTRACT: Considerations of the impact climate change has on reptiles are typically focused on habitat change or loss, range shifts and skewed sex ratios in species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Here, we show that incubation temperature alters stripe number and head colouration of hatchling American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Animals incubated at higher temperatures (33.5°C) had, on average, one more stripe than those at lower temperatures (29.5°C), and also had significantly lighter heads. These patterns were not affected by estradiol-induced sex reversal, suggesting independence from hatchling sex. Therefore, increases in nest temperatures as a result of climate change have the potential to alter pigmentation patterning, which may have implications for offspring fitness.

SUBMITTER: Rogerson G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10112970 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Incubation temperature alters stripe formation and head colouration in American alligator hatchlings and is unaffected by estradiol-induced sex reversal.

Rogerson Grace G Bock Samantha S Loera Yeraldi Y Parrott Benjamin B Mulley John F JF

The Journal of experimental biology 20230331 6

Considerations of the impact climate change has on reptiles are typically focused on habitat change or loss, range shifts and skewed sex ratios in species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Here, we show that incubation temperature alters stripe number and head colouration of hatchling American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Animals incubated at higher temperatures (33.5°C) had, on average, one more stripe than those at lower temperatures (29.5°C), and also had significantly ...[more]

PMID: 36861779

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