Temperature during embryonic and juvenile development influences growth inhatchling snapping turtles, Chelydra serpentina

Embryonic temperature influenced subsequent growth in juvenile snapping tur tles, Chelydra serpentina: incubation temperatures of 24 and 26.5 degrees C enhanced growth relative to a temperature of 29 degrees C. Although embryo nic temperature normally determines gonadal sex in this species, experiment al manipulations revealed that temperature effects on growth were independe nt of sex. Ambient temperature also affected growth: juvenile turtles grew slowly in a cool (19 degrees C) versus a warm (28 degrees C) environment. T n a parallel experiment, turtles from different embryonic temperatures disp layed different patterns of temperature choice in response to nutritional s tatus or time of day. We tentatively conclude that embryonic temperature ha s both direct and indirect (i.e., through temperature choice) effects on gr owth in snapping turtles. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.