Reproductive variation and the egg size-clutch size trade-off within and among populations of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii)

Oecologia ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 99 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Rowe
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Chrysemys Picta Bellii

Demography, growth, and food of western painted turtles, Chrysemys picta bellii (Gray), from southern Saskatchewan

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 1499-1509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross D. MacCulloch ◽  
D. M. Secoy
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
North American ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Chrysemys Picta Bellii ◽  
Northern Portion

Western painted turtles from populations in the northern portion of their range attained greater sizes, had more rapid growth despite a shorter growing season, and appeared to mature at a larger size than turtles from farther south. Mean clutch size was 19.8, with no evidence of production of two clutches. Examination of stomach contents showed that the turtles were mainly carnivorous, even in areas of abundant vegetation. The carnivorous diet may account for the large sizes, large clutches, and rapid growth of the turtles and may permit C. picta to maintain populations farther north than other North American turtle species.

Reproductive ecology of the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) in southwestern Quebec

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 914-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Christens ◽  
J. Roger Bider
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Reproductive Ecology ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Painted Turtle ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Old Females

The reproductive ecology of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) was studied over 3 years (1983–1985) in southwestern Quebec. We used X-ray photography to determine clutch size, egg size, and clutch frequency in conjunction with radiotelemetry to determine when and where the eggs were being deposited. Data on nesting frequency indicated that between 40 and 80% of the 7- to 11-year-old females reproduce each year. All females > 11 years of age reproduced each year and exhibited a substantial reduction in growth compared with younger adult females. The percentage of those females that layed two clutches in a season ranged from 5 to 32%. There was no difference in the size of the first and second clutches or those produced by females only laying one clutch. The average clutch size was found to be 9.2 (range, 5–12) eggs. There was no significant relationship between clutch size and body size, between clutch size and age, or between clutch size and egg size. There was a significant positive linear relationship between egg size and body size. Age-specific fecundity increased up to 20 years of age and then decreased. When compared to studies of more southern populations of painted turtles, the major reproductive strategy for this population seems to be to produce a larger number of large eggs per clutch.

Annual variations in reproductive characteristics of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta)

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 1148-1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Schwarzkopf ◽  
Ronald J. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Sources Of Variation ◽  
Clutch Mass

In Algonquin Park, Ontario, body size and clutch characteristics were recorded for 51 female painted turtles (Chrysemyspicta) in 1983, 61 in 1984, and 24 in 1985. Clutch size, clutch mass, and egg width correlated significantly with body size (carapace length) in all 3 years. Egg length and egg mass were significantly related to body size in 1984 and 1985, but not in 1983. There were no significant correlations of egg width or egg mass to clutch size. For a group of the same individuals compared by repeated-measures ANOVA, mean clutch mass and mean egg size, but not mean clutch size, varied significantly among years. Correlation of egg size with body size, lack of correlation between egg size and clutch size, and annual variation in egg size, but not clutch size, all fail to support current versions of optimal egg size theory. Twenty-six females nested in both 1983 and 1984 and 11 females nested in both 1984 and 1985. Fourteen females nested twice in 1 year: six in 1983 and eight in 1984. Between 43 and 73% of adult females nested in a given year and 12–13% nested twice in a single season. These estimates are similar to those reported for other populations of this species. It appears that variations in both clutch size (frequency) and egg size are important sources of variation in reproductive output.

Environmental, ontogenetic, and genetic variation in egg size of Pied Flycatchers

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 1534-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Potti
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Relative Volume ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Territory Quality ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Female Condition ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Ontogenetic, genetic, and environmental variation in egg length, breadth, and volume were investigated in the Pied Flycatcher across four breeding seasons in central Spain. Egg length and breadth were poorly correlated and did not vary with laying date. There was an indication of decreasing egg breadth with increasing clutch size that may indicate a trade-off between both variables. Egg size increased with female condition and, independently, with territory quality. Mean egg size decreased with advancing female age, which is perhaps related to the increase of clutch size with age in this species. There were high, significant repeatabilities of almost all egg dimensions, including relative volumes of first and last eggs, among females, both within and between years. Also, nest boxes were repeatable in the relative volume of the last eggs of (different) females laying in them, suggesting an influence of territory quality on relative egg size. Territory quality also had positive influences on some egg measurements that were independent of female condition. Heritability, estimated by mother–daughter regression, was significant only for egg length. These results are discussed in relation to proximate constraints on egg formation, predictions from the brood-survival hypothesis, and a possible trade-off between clutch and egg sizes.

Female reproductive characteristics of the Balkan wall lizard (Podarcis taurica) in the northwestern periphery of its range

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Ljubisavljević ◽  
Georg Džukić ◽  
Miloš Kalezić
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Species Range ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Female Body Size ◽  
Female Reproductive Traits ◽  
Gravid Females

AbstractWe present data on the female reproductive traits of the Balkan wall lizard in the Deliblato Sand, a large continental sandland in the Pannonian area in the northwestern periphery of the species range. The clutch and egg characteristics of the population were investigated on the basis of clutches laid in laboratory conditions by gravid females captured in one locality. Balkan wall lizards produced at least two clutches in a breeding season. Individual females laid clutches of commonly two (range 1–4) eggs. The female body size had no effect on clutch and egg size. There was no trade-off between egg size and clutch size.

scholarly journals Cold-acclimation induces life stage-specific responses in the cardiac proteome of Western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii): implications for anoxia tolerance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Alderman ◽  
Claire L. Riggs ◽  
Oliver Bullingham ◽  
Todd E. Gillis ◽  
Daniel E. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Cold Acclimation ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Anoxia Tolerance ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Chrysemys Picta Bellii ◽  
Induced Changes

AbstractWestern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) are the most anoxia-tolerant tetrapod. Survival time improves at low temperature and during ontogeny, such that adults acclimated to 3°C survive far longer without oxygen than either warm-acclimated adults or cold-acclimated hatchlings. Since protein synthesis is rapidly suppressed to save energy at the onset of anoxia exposure, this study tested the hypothesis that cold-acclimation would evoke preparatory changes in protein expression that would support enhanced anoxia survival in adult but not hatchling turtles. To test this, adult and hatchling turtles were acclimated to either 20°C (warm) or 3°C (cold) for 5 weeks, and then the heart ventricles were collected for quantitative proteomic analysis using labeled isobaric tags and mass spectrometry. The relative abundances of 1316 identified proteins were compared between temperatures and developmental stages. The effect of cold-acclimation on the cardiac proteome was most evident when life stage was included as a covariable, suggesting that ontogenic differences in anoxia tolerance may be predicated on successful maturation of the heart from its hatchling to adult form and, only after this maturation occurs, will cold-acclimation induce protein expression changes appropriate for supporting heart function during prolonged anoxia. The main differences between the hatchling and adult cardiac proteomes reflect an increase in metabolic scope that included more myoglobin and increased investment in both aerobic and anaerobic energy pathways. Mitochondrial structure and function were key targets of life stage- and temperature-induced changes to the cardiac proteome, including reduced complex II proteins in cold-acclimated adults that may help down-regulate the electron transport system and avoid succinate accumulation during anoxia. Therefore, targeted cold-induced changes to the cardiac proteome may be a contributing mechanism for stagespecific anoxia tolerance in turtles.

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