Q14 - Reproduction in Reptiles

Question 1

What does the figure in Du et al.’s paper show?

Answer 1

Angular deviation (measure of positional change) over time in turtle embryos as they were exposed to heat sources from different directions

Question 2

What happened to eggs exposed to dorsal heat sources in Du et al.’s paper on turtle embryos?

Answer 2

Little deviation from the start position (angles shifted close to 0 for most of the study)

Question 3

What happened to eggs exposed to lateral heat sources in Du et al.’s paper on turtle embryos?

Answer 3

Tracked the heat source - shifted significantly to the left at first, then shifted to the right when the heat source moved to that side on day 15 (change along the y axis from positive to negative, not significant until day 27)

Question 4

Why is Du et al.’s experiment important?

Answer 4

No previous studies on behavioural thermoregulatory mechanisms in turtle embryos at it was thought these mechanisms didn’t occur

There would be benefits if they did occur - warm temperatures accelerate growth and development and enhance fitness and survival rates