Developmental timing of flash drought influences offspring survival in the field.

ABSTRACT: Extreme climate events, including rapid-onset flash droughts, are increasing with anthropogenic climate change. Flash droughts impact growth and survival of plants, microbes, and invertebrates, yet less is known about their ecological consequences in vertebrates. Although constant water deprivation during vertebrate embryonic development influences a range of offspring traits, the effects of acute, short-term hydric stress are less well-studied, particularly in the context of subsequent survival in the field. In this study, we combined experimental manipulation in the laboratory with a large-scale field experiment to examine the effects of the developmental timing of flash drought in an oviparous vertebrate model. We exposed common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) eggs to simulated fl

SUBMITTER: Shortridge AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12006206 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature