Journal article
Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination in Sea Turtles in the Context of Climate Change: Uncovering the Adaptive Significance
BioEssays, v 42(11), pp e2000146-n/a
Nov 2020
PMID: 32896903
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The adaptive significance of temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in reptiles remains unknown decades after TSD was first identified in this group. Concurrently, there is growing concern about the effect that rising temperatures may have on species with TSD, potentially producing extremely biased sex ratios or offspring of only one sex. The current state-of the-art in TSD research on sea turtles is reviewed here and, against current paradigm, it is proposed that TSD provides an advantage under warming climates. By means of coadaptation between early survival and sex ratios, sea turtles are able to maintain populations. When offspring survival declines at high temperatures, the sex that increases future fecundity (females) is produced, increasing resilience to climate warming. TSD could have helped reptiles to survive mass extinctions in the past via this model. Flaws in research on sex determination in sea turtles are also identified and it is suggested that the development of new techniques will revolutionize the field.
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Details
- Title
- Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination in Sea Turtles in the Context of Climate Change: Uncovering the Adaptive Significance
- Creators
- Pilar Santidrián Tomillo - Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station, Playa Grande, Guancaste, Costa RicaJames R Spotila - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- BioEssays, v 42(11), pp e2000146-n/a
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- The Eartwatch Institute The Leatherback Trust
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000566758000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85090307022
- Other Identifier
- 991019168952804721
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- Collaboration types
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Biology