Effects of incubation and raising temperature on Caiman latirostris growth.

PARACHÚ MARCÓ, MARÍA VIRGINIA; PIÑA, CARLOS IGNACIO; SIMONCINI, MELINA; ALEJANDRO LARRIERA

ZOOLOGICAL STUDIES

Elsevier

Año: 2010 vol. 49 p. 367 - 373

1021-5506

Different studies found that incubation temperature has an influence on the size of Caiman latirostris hatchling and determines their gonadal sex.  Experimental manipulations have revealed that the effects of temperature on growth are independent of sex.  Ambient temperature after hatching has also been an influential factor - juvenile caiman have had lower growth in cool temperature (29¨¬C) versus warm temperature (33¨¬C) independent of incubation temperatures.  Two-month old caiman were raised at two different temperatures (29¨¬C and 33¨¬C) for 100 days.  These animals came from different incubation treatments: 29¨¬C, 31¨¬C (females), 33¨¬C (male) and 33¨¬C with 17¥â-Estradiol (females).  No differences have been found on growth based on incubation temperature or sex.  Our data indicates that the evolutionary advantage of the TSD (temperature-dependent sex determination), if it exists, would not be bound to a differential growth between sexes nor to incubation temperature; at least in the first stages of life before hatchlings reach the first winter.  The temperature during the development and grow-out phase has direct effects on the size of the broad-snouted caiman.