EFFECTS OF THE EMBRYONIC ENVIRONMENT AND OF HATCHLING HOUSING CONDITIONS ON GROWTH OF YOUNG SNAPPING TURTLES (CHELYDRA-SERPENTINA)

Growth patterns of hatchling snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) we re measured for 14 weeks. Hatchlings from eggs incubated at 27 C grew more rapidly than those incubated at 22 C or at 31 C, particularly dur ing the second half of the study period. Turtles from eggs incubated a t 27 C, -1100 kPa grew significantly more slowly than those from eggs incubated at 27 C, -150 kPa; whereas water availability during embryog eny had no effect on the growth of hatchlings from eggs incubated at 2 2 C. Hatchling growth from colony A (sequentially grouped, as turtles from various treatments hatched over time) and colony B (simultaneousl y grouped after turtles from all treatments had hatched) was not signi ficantly different; however, hatchlings reared in isolation (but at th e same density as the colonies) grew more rapidly than those in either colony. Hatchlings from some clutches grew more rapidly than those fr om other clutches. This study indicates that the rate of growth of you ng turtles is dependent on numerous factors including the incubation e nvironment, and maternal and/or paternal effects, and social interacti ons. In addition, our results demonstrate that the incubation environm ent may have long-term consequences on organisms not immediately evide nt at the time of exposure.