Consequences of maternal effects on offspring size, growth and survival in the desert tortoise
Abstract
Abstract Maternal body size can have notable consequences on reproductive success. For example, fecundity often increases with body size. Less is known, however, about the relationship between maternal size and factors affecting offspring fitness, including size, growth and survival. Here, we examined the relationship between hatchling and maternal body size in the M ojave D esert tortoise G opherus agassizii . We further examined the relationships between survival and growth after 1 year and size at hatching. We found that larger females tended to produce larger offspring; post‐hatching growth and survival also correlated positively with size at hatching. Our results suggest that, in desert tortoises, maternal body size may indirectly influence offspring fitness via growth and survival for at least the first year of life. Such an advantage early in life may confer long‐term benefits for individuals, especially in species thought to have high juvenile mortality or that inhabit highly variable environments.
- Authors:
-
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology University of California Davis CA USA, San Diego Zoological Global San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research Escondido CA USA
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology University of California Davis CA USA
- University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Aiken SC USA
- Publication Date:
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1401144
- Grant/Contract Number:
- DE‐FC09‐07SR22506
- Resource Type:
- Publisher's Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Zoology
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Journal of Zoology Journal Volume: 297 Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0952-8369
- Publisher:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Nafus, M. G., Todd, B. D., Buhlmann, K. A., and Tuberville, T. D. Consequences of maternal effects on offspring size, growth and survival in the desert tortoise. United Kingdom: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1111/jzo.12250.
Nafus, M. G., Todd, B. D., Buhlmann, K. A., & Tuberville, T. D. Consequences of maternal effects on offspring size, growth and survival in the desert tortoise. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12250
Nafus, M. G., Todd, B. D., Buhlmann, K. A., and Tuberville, T. D. Thu .
"Consequences of maternal effects on offspring size, growth and survival in the desert tortoise". United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12250.
@article{osti_1401144,
title = {Consequences of maternal effects on offspring size, growth and survival in the desert tortoise},
author = {Nafus, M. G. and Todd, B. D. and Buhlmann, K. A. and Tuberville, T. D.},
abstractNote = {Abstract Maternal body size can have notable consequences on reproductive success. For example, fecundity often increases with body size. Less is known, however, about the relationship between maternal size and factors affecting offspring fitness, including size, growth and survival. Here, we examined the relationship between hatchling and maternal body size in the M ojave D esert tortoise G opherus agassizii . We further examined the relationships between survival and growth after 1 year and size at hatching. We found that larger females tended to produce larger offspring; post‐hatching growth and survival also correlated positively with size at hatching. Our results suggest that, in desert tortoises, maternal body size may indirectly influence offspring fitness via growth and survival for at least the first year of life. Such an advantage early in life may confer long‐term benefits for individuals, especially in species thought to have high juvenile mortality or that inhabit highly variable environments.},
doi = {10.1111/jzo.12250},
journal = {Journal of Zoology},
number = 2,
volume = 297,
place = {United Kingdom},
year = {Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12250
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