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THE ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF REPTILIAN VIVIPARITY IN THE TROPICS: TESTING THE MATERNAL MANIPULATION HYPOTHESIS

Overview of attention for article published in Evolution, January 2006
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Title
THE ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF REPTILIAN VIVIPARITY IN THE TROPICS: TESTING THE MATERNAL MANIPULATION HYPOTHESIS
Published in
Evolution, January 2006
DOI 10.1554/05-460.1
Pubmed ID
Authors

Jonathan K. Webb, Richard Shine, Keith A. Christian

Abstract

Phylogenetic transitions from oviparity to viviparity in reptiles generally have occurred in cold climates, apparently driven by selective advantages accruing from maternal regulation of incubation temperature. But why, then, are viviparous reptiles so successful in tropical climates? Viviparity might enhance fitness in the tropics via the same pathway as in the temperate zone, if pregnant female reptiles in the tropics maintain more stable temperatures than are available in nests (Shine's maternal manipulation hypothesis). Alternatively, viviparity might succeed in the tropics for entirely different reasons than apply in the temperate zone. Our data support the maternal manipulation hypothesis. In a laboratory thermal gradient, pregnant death adders (Acanthophis praelongus) from tropical Australia maintained less variable body temperatures (but similar mean temperatures) than did nonpregnant females. Females kept at a diel range of 25-31 degrees C (as selected by pregnant females) gave birth earlier and produced larger offspring (greater body length and head size) than did females kept at 23-33 degrees C (as selected by nonpregnant snakes). Larger body size enhanced offspring recapture rates (presumably reflecting survival rates) in the field. Thus, even in the tropics, reproducing female reptiles manipulate the thermal regimes experienced by their developing embryos in ways that enhance the fitness of their offspring. This similarity across climatic zones suggests that a single general hypothesis--maternal manipulation of thermal conditions for embryogenesis--may explain the selective advantage of viviparity in tropical as well as cold-climate reptiles.

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Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 135 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Brazil 3 2%
United States 3 2%
Spain 2 1%
France 1 <1%
Italy 1 <1%
South Africa 1 <1%
Switzerland 1 <1%
United Arab Emirates 1 <1%
Romania 1 <1%
Other 0 0%
Unknown 121 90%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Researcher 29 21%
Student > Ph. D. Student 24 18%
Student > Bachelor 18 13%
Student > Master 16 12%
Professor 10 7%
Other 28 21%
Unknown 10 7%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 86 64%
Environmental Science 15 11%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 7 5%
Earth and Planetary Sciences 4 3%
Medicine and Dentistry 2 1%
Other 7 5%
Unknown 14 10%