Effects of incubation temperatures on learning abilities of hatchling velvet geckos.

Abayarathna, T; Webb, JK

Effects of incubation temperatures on learning abilities of hatchling velvet geckos.

Abayarathna, T Webb, JK

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Publisher:: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Animal cognition, 2020, 23, (4), pp. 613-620
Issue Date:: 2020-07

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Abayarathna, T
dc.contributor.author	Webb, JK
dc.date.accessioned	2020-11-20T03:54:39Z
dc.date.available	2020-02-24
dc.date.available	2020-11-20T03:54:39Z
dc.date.issued	2020-07
dc.identifier.citation	Animal cognition, 2020, 23, (4), pp. 613-620
dc.identifier.issn	1435-9448
dc.identifier.issn	1435-9456
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/144181
dc.description.abstract	Stressful environments in utero can have a profound influence on cognitive functions and learning ability. In lizards, thermal environments experienced by embryos can shape a range of traits, including sex, body size, and locomotor performance, which may influence fitness. Recent studies suggest that incubation temperatures may also influence brain development and learning ability of some lizard species. Therefore, predicted increases in nest temperatures of lizards may not only affect hatchling morphology and performance, but could also affect their learning ability. To investigate how incubation temperatures influence cognitive abilities of hatchlings, we incubated eggs of the velvet gecko, Amalosia lesueurii, under two fluctuating temperature regimes. The warm treatment mimicked the thermal profiles of currently used partly shaded communal nests (mean = 24.3 °C, range 18.4-31.1 °C), and the hot treatment simulated thermal profiles that could be experienced in sun-exposed nests in 2050 (mean = 28.9 °C, range 19.1-38.1 °C). At age three to four weeks, we measured the ability of hatchlings to locate an open shelter in a Y-maze choice test. Both hot and warm-incubated hatchlings successfully learned the task, but hatchlings from the warm-temperature treatment learned the task faster, and made fewer mistakes in the first five trials than hot-incubated hatchlings. These patterns were consistent for hatchlings from two geographic locations, suggesting that thermally stressful conditions in utero may alter the learning abilities of hatchling lizards. Because learning ability can affect the survival of hatchling velvet geckos, future increase in nest temperatures may have wide reaching impacts on populations.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
dc.relation.ispartof	Animal cognition
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s10071-020-01365-4
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.subject	06 Biological Sciences, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Lizards
dc.subject.mesh	Temperature
dc.subject.mesh	Phenotype
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Lizards
dc.subject.mesh	Temperature
dc.subject.mesh	Phenotype
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Lizards
dc.subject.mesh	Phenotype
dc.subject.mesh	Temperature
dc.title	Effects of incubation temperatures on learning abilities of hatchling velvet geckos.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	23
utslib.location.activity	Germany
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2020-11-20T03:54:31Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	23
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

Stressful environments in utero can have a profound influence on cognitive functions and learning ability. In lizards, thermal environments experienced by embryos can shape a range of traits, including sex, body size, and locomotor performance, which may influence fitness. Recent studies suggest that incubation temperatures may also influence brain development and learning ability of some lizard species. Therefore, predicted increases in nest temperatures of lizards may not only affect hatchling morphology and performance, but could also affect their learning ability. To investigate how incubation temperatures influence cognitive abilities of hatchlings, we incubated eggs of the velvet gecko, Amalosia lesueurii, under two fluctuating temperature regimes. The warm treatment mimicked the thermal profiles of currently used partly shaded communal nests (mean = 24.3 °C, range 18.4-31.1 °C), and the hot treatment simulated thermal profiles that could be experienced in sun-exposed nests in 2050 (mean = 28.9 °C, range 19.1-38.1 °C). At age three to four weeks, we measured the ability of hatchlings to locate an open shelter in a Y-maze choice test. Both hot and warm-incubated hatchlings successfully learned the task, but hatchlings from the warm-temperature treatment learned the task faster, and made fewer mistakes in the first five trials than hot-incubated hatchlings. These patterns were consistent for hatchlings from two geographic locations, suggesting that thermally stressful conditions in utero may alter the learning abilities of hatchling lizards. Because learning ability can affect the survival of hatchling velvet geckos, future increase in nest temperatures may have wide reaching impacts on populations.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/144181