Microgeographic Variation in Response of Red- Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Embryos to Similar Incubation Environments

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1 Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Publications Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Microgeographic Variation in Response of Red- Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Embryos to Similar Incubation Environments John C. Tucker U. S. Geological Survey Daniel A. Warner Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: Part of the Animal Sciences Commons, and the Population Biology Commons The complete bibliographic information for this item can be found at eeob_ag_pubs/291. For information on how to cite this item, please visit howtocite.html. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Publications by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact

2 Microgeographic Variation in Response of Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Embryos to Similar Incubation Environments Abstract We examined site-specific variation in the response of red-eared slider (Trachemys elegans) embryos exposed to similar incubation environments, and collected at five nearby sites central Illinois. Overall, site was not a significant source of variance in change in egg mass during bation, in hatchling wet mass, and in hatchling carapace length. However, site was a significant source variance in incubation period. Nonetheless, significant site-specific differences in each trait were in pairwise comparisons. The actual difference between extremes was small. Eggs from the site longest incubation period also gained the most water during incubation. Our study has important cations for future studies of geographic variation in the physiological response of embryos to incubation environments. Comparisons between eggs and embryos from geographically distant sites would benefit inclusion of as many clutches as possible. Larger numbers of clutches reduce the possibility that ferences between geographically distant regions are due to maternal differences rather than regiondifferences. Studies comparing embryonic responses from geographically distant regions would be strengthened by including turtles from as many local collecting sites for each region as possible. Sampling site per region may be inadequate because any geographic variation in embryonic response could well be due to undetected local site-specific differences. Disciplines Animal Sciences Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Population Biology Comments This article is published as Tucker, John K., and Daniel A. Warner. "Microgeographic variation in response of red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) embryos to similar incubation environments." Journal of Herpetology 33 (1999): doi: / Rights Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. This article is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository:

3 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Microgeographic Variation in Response of Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Embryos to Similar Incubation Environments Author(s): John K. Tucker and Daniel A. Warner Source: Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 33, No. 4 (Dec., 1999), pp Published by: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Stable URL: Accessed: :52 UTC REFERENCES Linked references are available on JSTOR for this article: You may need to log in to JSTOR to access the linked references. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Herpetology

4 Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp , 1999 Copyright 1999 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Microgeographic Variation in Response of Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Embryos to Similar Incubation Environments JOHN K. TUCKER1 AND DANIEL A. WARNER2'3 'Illinois Natural History Survey, Great Rivers Field Station, Long Term Resource Monitoring Program-Reac 4134 Alby Street, Alton, Illinois 62002, USA 2Department of Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA ABSTRACT.-We examined site-specific variation in the response of red-eared slider (Trachemy elegans) embryos exposed to similar incubation environments, and collected at five nearby sites central Illinois. Overall, site was not a significant source of variance in change in egg mass duri bation, in hatchling wet mass, and in hatchling carapace length. However, site was a significant s variance in incubation period. Nonetheless, significant site-specific differences in each trait were in pairwise comparisons. The actual difference between extremes was small. Eggs from the site longest incubation period also gained the most water during incubation. Our study has importan cations for future studies of geographic variation in the physiological response of embryos to in environments. Comparisons between eggs and embryos from geographically distant sites would b inclusion of as many clutches as possible. Larger numbers of clutches reduce the possibility that ferences between geographically distant regions are due to maternal differences rather than regiondifferences. Studies comparing embryonic responses from geographically distant regions would be st ened by including turtles from as many local collecting sites for each region as possible. Sampling site per region may be inadequate because any geographic variation in embryonic response could well be due to undetected local site-specific differences. Turtles exhibit geographic variation in many variation in these traits would be expected to morphological traits (see Ernst et al., 1994, occur. for The study of geographic variation in any review). Moreover, life history traits such trait as eggis simplified when the extent to which a size and clutch size also vary geographically trait varies within and among populations from among turtle species (reviewed by Fitch, the 1985; same area is known. Iverson et al., 1993; Ernst et al., 1994). In contrast, egg incubation and the response of the em- response of red-eared slider (Trachemys In the current study, we examine variation in bryos to incubation conditions has been little scripta elegans) embryos exposed to similar incubation environments, and collected at five studied within a geographic context. Geographic variation in incubation periods is known nearby to sites in west-central Illinois. This turtle occur in the common snapping turtle, Chelydra is a good subject for such a study because it is serpentina (Ewert, 1985; Iverson et al., a 1997). widely distributed, polytypic species (Ernst However, nothing is known about possible and geographic variation in other responses of turtle flexible-shelled eggs (Congdon and Gibbons, Barbour, 1989; Ernst et al., 1994) that lays embryos to incubation environments. 1985) sensitive to incubation environments Turtle embryos contained in flexible-shelled (Congdon and Gibbons, 1990; Tucker et al., eggs display predictable phenotypic responses 1997, 1998a). Moreover, its biology has been to hydric and thermal environments during studied incubation (reviewed by Packard, 1991). These States re- (reviewed in Gibbons, 1990) and else- extensively in the southeastern United sponses have important effects on hatchling where (Cagle, 1950; Moll and Legler, 1971; size, on the amount of residual yolk, and on Thornhill, incubation period. Consequently, eggs and embry- 1982; Moll and Moll, 1990; Tucker and Moll, 1997; Tucker, 1997). os might be expected to be adapted to maximize their performance to the hydric and ther- Trachemys scripta is also a good choice to study variation among nearby populations mal regimes characteristic of the geographic location of the nest site. Therefore, geographic (=microgeographic variation) because other studies have exposed considerable microgeographic variation in other traits. For instance, 3 Present Address: Department of Biology, Virginia microgeographic variation has been found in reproduction and growth (Gibbons, 1967; Gibbons Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia and Tinkle, 1969; Tucker et al., 1998c), in age

5 550 J. K. TUCKER AND D. A. WARNER Fowler Lakc Long Lake A Flat Lake Deep Lake \ Upper Stump Lake Lower Stump Lake N \Pohlman Slough Kilometers I I I I I S FIG. 1. Location of five nesting areas in west-central Illinois where nesting female red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) were collected. Location 1 is near Fowler Lake, location 2 is near Upper Stump Lake, location 3 is near Lower Stump Lake, location 4 is near Swan Lake, and location 5 is near Pohlman Slough. and size at maturity (Gibbons et al., 1981), in carapace morphology (Tucker et al., 1998b), in Mendelian inherited proteins (reviewed by Smith and Scribner, 1990), and in the development of melanism (Lovich et al., 1990; Tucker et al., 1995a). Our experiment is the first to examine embryonic response for microgeographic variation. Such studies of site-specific variation from nearby sites are needed for comparison to future studies of geographic variation among distant sites. METHODS AND MATERIALS sites). We also colleted turtles from nesting areas near Lower Stump Lake (Sec. 4, T7N, R13W) and Fowler Lake (Sec. 28, T7N, R13W), both also in Jersey County. All of the nesting areas are interconnected by the Illinois River (Fig. 1). Egg Collection.-Gravid females were collected at five nesting sites along the Illinois River in Jersey and Calhoun Counties, Illinois. Collections included turtles whose eggs were used in the experiment (=experimental turtles) and turtles whose eggs were not used in the experiment (=reference turtles). We measured plastron length, maximum carapace height, and maximum carapace width (all to 1 mm) and calculated estimated spent body mass (method of Iverson and Smith, 1993) for all females. Collecting Sites.-Females were collected at Experimental turtles were collected between nesting areas near Pohlman Slough (Sec. 302, May and 5 June Oviposition was in- T13S, R1W) and Swan Lake (Sec. 16, T13S, R1W) in Calhoun County and near Upper Stump Lake (Sec. 33, T7N, R13W) in Jersey County (see Tucker, 1997, for details on these duced for experimental turtles on 6 June by intramuscular injection of oxytocin (Ewert and Legler, 1978). The experiment included four clutches each from Upper Stump Lake, Lower Stump Lake, Fowler Lake, and Swan Lake, and five clutches from Pohlman Slough. Reference turtles and their clutches included an additional

6 MICROGEOGRAPHIC VARIATION from Upper Stump Lake, 24 from We Fowler compared experimental and reference turtles Lower to help preclude the possibility that the ex- Lake, 31 from Pohlman Slough, 32 from Stump Lake, and 226 from Swan Lake. perimental Reference turtles were collected between 28 sample May and of the turtles nesting at each site. We turtles were not a representative 19 July Eggs from experimental used and estimated reference turtles were patted dry, weighed iate from to the the four available measures of mater- spent body mass as the covar- nearest 0.01 g, and uniquely numbered nal size with (see above) because it was the measure carbon ink. Prior to their release at the of original maternal size that best predicted mean egg collecting sites, females were retained mass for per 48 clutch h using multiple regression. after oviposition to reduce the frequency of Statistical false analyses of experimental data gathered from eggs and hatchlings were performed nesting attempts (Tucker et al., 1995b). Experimental Procedures.-We prepared with four the General Linear Model (GLM) Procedure x and 15.9the Mixed Procedure in SAS version Sterilite brand plastic boxes (58.8 x 40.6 cm) by adding a mixture of 1.11 g water/g 6.12 (SAS vermiculite (water potential: -150 kpa, Packard yield information et that cannot be arrived at us- Institute, 1996). Each set of analyses al., 1987) to each nest box. Each nest box ing contained 900 g of vermiculite before adding The water. Mixed Procedure estimates variance com- one procedure alone (Packard et al., 1999). Eggs from each experimental clutch ponents were assigned to each of the four nest boxes hood using method a (REML) and Satterthwaite's ap- using the restricted maximum likeli- stratified random design. First, the number proximation of to correctly compute denominator eggs needed for each clutch to be as equally degrees represented in each nest box as possible was stitute, deter- 1996). The mixed procedure correctly es- of freedom (Janzen et al., 1995; SAS Inmined. Then eggs from the particular timates clutch covariance parameters for random effects. We examined hatchling mass, hatchling were chosen at random for each box until all eggs were assigned. carapace length, incubation period, and change Hydration was maintained by weekly replacement of the substrate in each nest box with water-exchange) by designating initial egg mass in mass of eggs over incubation (a measure of newly mixed substrate of the appropriate kpa. as the covariate, a fixed effect, and the other variables (i.e., site, nest box, site-nest box interac- During incubation, experimental eggs were reweighed five times at 12 or 10 d intervals. We tion, and clutch nested in site) as random effects. d Variation due to positioning of nest boxes determined change in egg mass for this 52 period by subtracting initial egg mass from the was spread through all nest boxes by rotating fifth and final egg weight determined on 28 July them. Nonetheless, we retain nest box as a random effect in our analyses to remove any re During incubation, all nest boxes were kept atmaining variance due to nest box position. the same vertical height. Nest boxes were horizontally rotated once weekly to spread effects least squares means to assess the magnitude of The GLM Procedure was needed to obtain of undetected temperature gradients over alldifferences observed among variables. Moreover, the GLM Procedure was required in order nest boxes. Incubation temperature fluctuated, and was recorded daily with minimum-maxi-tmum thermometers. Estimated incubation temance parameters of random effects that are only assess the significance levels for the covariperature was near 28 C using the method ofaccurately derivable from the Mixed Procedure Godfrey and Mrosovsky (1994). (i.e., the method of Packard et al., 1999). The Once the first egg pipped, we placed a bottomless waxed paper cup over each egg (Janzen, site-nest box interactions, and clutch nested in GLM model statement included site, nest box, 1993). We recorded pip date and define incu-sitebation period as pip date minus initial date as random effects with the 'test' option of SAS Each of these variables were also included (Gutzke et al., 1984). We then measured hatch- version 6.12 selected. ling mass (to 0.01 g) and hatchling carapace length (to 0.1 mm). After overwintering in the laboratory, surviving hatchlings were released at the collecting site of the female parent. Mean temperature during the overwintering period (mean 7.8 C, range = C) was monitored Because eggs from the same female in the same nest box were not statistically independent, use of individual eggs as experimental units is tainted by potential effects of pseudoreplication. Pseudoreplication could be avoided by treating the individuals from the same moth- with HOBO computer temperature loggers (On-eset Computer Corp.). means for the variables examined as experimen- and same nest box as a group by using the Statistical Procedures.-Because reproductive tal units. Use of means would effectively ignore traits covary with maternal size at our study the random variation within each box and area (Tucker and Moll, 1997), we used ANCOVA clutch. Moreover, comparisons between this to compare experimental and reference turtles. study and the numerous other studies already

7 552 J. K. TUCKER AND D. A. WARNER published would be complicated by departure from the more widely used method (e.g., Pack- < ard and Packard, 1993). We did, however, repeat. I I the analysis using means to investigate the ex-.e, "_'-o tent to which pseudoreplication might be a fac- -f5 Si ' i~ m tor. These analyses agreed with those we report, U X, herein and suggest that pseudoreplication was. 1 ~ ' ~ not an important factor in our analysis using E individual eggs as an experimental unit. We compared means or least squares means (LSM) of experimental variables (i.e., net change in egg mass, incubation period, hatchling mass, ( and hatchling carapace length) to maternal variables (i.e., plastron length, carapace height, car-, C apace width, and estimated spent body mass) ^ and reproductive variables (i.e., clutch size, S..... mean egg mass per clutch, mean egg width per "t S L tr' N' clutch, and mean egg length per clutch) to in- 5 vestigate possible sources of clutch effects due o 00? to maternal identity. We used two sorts of comparisons, stepwise multiple regression and correlation analysis. For multiple regression, exper- - imental variables became dependent variables. and maternal and reproductive variables were -g potential independent variables. We used F-ra- - in, cn o tios from the first step of each regression to T?!N N identify independent variables that were signif- I O O N M ON icant sources of variance in each dependent var- g- o iable. E..00 to t We used Spearman's rank correlation for cor- g0 e No relation analysis and partial correlation analysis. E o s S For both correlation analysis and ANOVA/AN- E.... COVA, we used the sequential Bonferroni method to identify vales of P that did not exclude the possibility of type I error at 0.05 (Rice, 1989). N RESULTS N e(?o o Initial Egg Mass.-N P = ), status (F1,355) = 0.51, P = ), o. nor their interaction (F(4355) 2.32, P = ) were significant sources of variance in mean egg? mass per clutch among the turtles that we stud- EX v ied. In contrast, estimated spent body mass was = responsible for nearly all of the variance in mean egg mass per clutch (F(,355) = , P < ) because heavier turtles produced heavier eggs. Nonetheless, the ANCOVA suggested that clutches from experimental turtles were a rep- z N 0 0 o resentative sample overall. Descriptive statistics '' N for all turtles examined are in Table 1. Initial egg mass for experimental eggs did not >D differ significantly among the four nest boxes. for each site (Kruskal-Wallis test, H < 7.5, P > 0.05, df = 3). Initial mass of experimental eggs, > c - overall, was normally distributed (univariate a c procedure, P = ). Initial mass of experi- E E mental eggs, uncorrected for differences in ma- 'l ternal size, did vary by site (ANOVA, F420) = ; 38.84, P < , Table 2). Experimental eggs from Pohlman Slough were significantly heavier 8UD 2

8 MICROGEOGRAPHIC VARIATION 553?2 _ C>I S D?????m ; 1 s o > s o ?ra,-,,,a'-'8-.- E i \ S u / g6u 11 0 Ln \0vl O O 't "'"' ~ "= O,:u o C o.,-0, 1 ''.; (S b- +HUpper Stump Lake -Fowler Lake --Pohlman C3 ~ X FIG. 2. Change in egg mass during the first 52 &b g days of incubation for red-eared sliders (Trachemys SP 01 u) ubs de d C) scripta elegans) eggs from five nearby col - O i _ E oo r on.,.e??? than eggs from any of the other sites, and re- F 2 Cn ie msdmained so even after adjusting for differences x o in maternal spent body mass using ANCOVA... o Experimental eggs from Swan Lake were sig-.,.. 0 nificantly lighter than eggs from the sites, whereas eggs from Upper Stum? X -, o. o.?.d 0 C o Lower Stump Lake, and Fowler Eg t.... significantly different. Egg mass for these latter z i = n- oo 00 oo o four sites did not differ significantly from each *? 11a&p o o o o ^ other once adjusted for differences in maternal > Zspent body mass. hj.ivariation in unadjusted initial egg mass may be important because larger eggs may have a ^= greater surface area available for water trans- CZ....0 Pport. However, initial egg mass SE ~b 6 ~ : icantly correlated with net change in egg mass -X u m,o\ La o during incubation (Rho = -0.02, P = , N t O? GS, 0? = 275). Variation in initial egg mass does no : '" '^ seem to have inordinately affected the response g ' of eggs to incubation environment. *. X~ Water-Exchange.-Eggs from all five sites gained mass during incubation (Fig. 2 <^~~?x:r^ =~ ~effects and initial egg mass accou c me all of the variance in the net change in eggs S2 S Z aq Z t O to, ~ mass (Table 3). Nonetheless, least squares Xc: c: did differ significantly among sites (Table 2, X E, 2) with net change in egg mass during incub.s ~ tion greatest for eggs from Fowler Lake and C x., least for eggs from Swan Lake (P < in 7, ~ all pairwise comparisons).? s. c- Although least squares means for Fowler Lake 'i%.id j i; were statistically greater than for other na c, ( o overall variation was primarily due to clu (Nc U)i^ >,,, fects. Eggs of some clutches gained mo o^hjg ;l a than did eggs from other clutches. Mean E'H d ', ~ = o; ter gain per clutch for the 21 clutches under Q) X 0 v-i D v study was not correlated with any maternal or

9 554 J. K. TUCKER AND D. A. WARNER TABLE 3. Variance components for incubation period, net change in egg mass, hatchling mass, and hatchling carapace length. Levels of significance (in parentheses) were determined using 'test option for random variables in the General Linear Model Procedure of SAS Hatchlings A egg Incubation Wet Carapace Source of variation df mass period mass length Site (0.8101) (0.0358) (0.3505) (0.1329) Nest box (0.6546) (0.0252) (0.1653) (0.5641) Site x Nest box (0.2585) (0.9971) (0.9992) (0.9642) Clutch nested in Site (0.0001) (0.0014) (0.0001) (0.0001) Residual reproductive variable. other sites Similarly, (P < 0n tential independent sons). variables In contrast, us tiple regression had were relatively significant lon However, mean cantly net water longer gain (P p< weakly associated parisons) with maternal than ha the effect of maternal (Table 2). plastron moved by partial Although hatchling correlation characteristics did vary (R 0.046, N = 21 clutches). by site, the actual difference between Apparen extremes gained more weight was small (Table 2). Overall, mass during differed by in more likely to 0.18 g between laid hatchlings from by Swan Lake female and relatively more those for from Fowler their Lake. Hatchling carapace length t were relatively length lighter differed by 0.4 mm between for hatchlings their l Hatchling Characteristics.-Near from the same two sites. variance in hatchling The basis for the significant mass clutch effects forand c was due to clutch both hatchling mass effects and carapace length couldand in (Table 3). Larger not be definitively eggs identified. produced Some clutches h ger hatchlings. from all sites produced hatchlings that were Although the both variance relatively heavy and longer than due did other to si overall (Table 3), clutches from pairwise the same sites. Adjusted means compar lings among sites for hatchling indicated mass and carapace length were nothat h Swan Lake (Table associated with 2) any of were the maternal variables relativ were significantly nor were they associated lighter with gravid mass after than h TABLE 4. Summary of F-ratios from the first step of stepwise multiple regression of maternal and reproductive variables (Independent variables) against experimental dependent variables for eggs and hatchlings of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) from five nearby sites in west-central Illinois. * P < 0.02 and ** P < with 1, 19 degrees of freedom. Dependent variables Independent Net change Incubation Hatchling Hatchling variable in egg mass period mass carapace length Plastron length (mm) Carapace height (mm) Carapace width (mm) * 0.03 Spent body mass (g) Egg mass (g) * 0.09 Clutch size (eggs) Egg length (mm) Egg width (mm) ** 0.07 R

10 MICROGEOGRAPHIC VARIATION 555 removal of the effect of maternal plastron differences rather than region-specific differences. length. Hatchling mass LSM was, however, associated with mean egg mass per clutch We (Rho also = suggest that any study of geographically distant egg regions would be strengthened by 0.62, P = , N = 21) and with mean width per clutch (Rho = 0.72, P = , including N = turtles from as many local collecting 21). Mean egg width per clutch was the sites best for potential independent variable in the first sampled step of the less likely it will be that site-spe- each region as possible. The more sites the multiple regression (Table 4). After cific variance variation will interfere with evaluation of due to mean egg width per clutch was geographic removed variation. Sampling a single site per in the second step, mean egg mass per region clutchmay be inadequate because any geographic carapace variation found could just as well be remained significant but maternal width did not. Thus, relatively heavier due hatchlings were found among eggs from clutches Maternal that effects including those associated to undetected local site-specific differences. had wider and heavier eggs. with initial egg size and/or maternal identity In contrast, hatchling carapace length (i.e., clutch) LSM are important influences on variance was not associated with mean egg mass in the traits per that we studied. Effects of maternal clutch (Rho = -0.07, P = , N = identity 21). Instead, hatchling carapace length LSM of was eggs to as-moisture and in variably sized hatch- resulted in differences in the response sociated with clutch size (Rho = 0.53, lings P despite = removal of variance due to initial , N = 21). However, the association egg mass between clutch size and hatchling carapace and length thermal environments. Thus, we confirm and incubation under similar hydric was weak and not supported by multiple experimentally regression (Table 4). (1995) that even if females choose similar hydric the prediction by Janzen et al. Incubation Period.-Site, clutch effects, environments and nest for their eggs that maternal differences for in- in the response of eggs to moisture box were significant sources of variance cubation period (Table 3). Nest box effects would appeared to be an artifact in this analysis. The biological One significance of the site-specific still lead to variably sized offspring. nest box had relatively few survivors from difference Swanthat we found is questionable. Except Lake and relatively more survivors from for Fowler incubation period, the influence of site was Lake than the others. The incubation period relatively forslight compared to those due to clutch this box was longer than for the others or possibly initial egg mass (Table 3). We note, however, due to this unbalanced sample. Site effects that could turtles from Fowler Lake, the site whose be attributed to eggs from Swan Lake and eggs Fowler Lake. Eggs from Swan Lake had a heavy signifi- hatchlings with longer carapaces after a gained the most water, produced relatively cantly shorter incubation period (P < longer for incubation period than did turtles from all pairwise comparisons) than eggs from other any sites despite correcting for initial differences had in initial a egg size. This finding is consis- of the other sites. Eggs from Fowler Lake significantly longer incubation period tent with (P < the findings comparing eggs on differing eggs substrate water potentials (Packard, 1991) for all pairwise comparisons) than from any of the other sites. suggesting that it has biological relevance. Incubation period was not associated Moreover, with the difference in the response of any of the maternal or reproductive variables eggs to including initial egg size. Furthermore, similar incubation environments that we observed none of among the five sites is greater than the the potential independent variables were amount a significant source of variance in the multiple observed between two sympatric species of regression (Table 4). map turtles (Graptemys) (Janzen et al., 1995). However, the differences between extremes for measures of hatchling size for our DISCUSSION study are much less than that found by Janzen et al. (1995) between the two species of map turtles, which were collected from the same site. Our study has important implications for future studies of geographic variation in the physiological response of embryos to incubation enical relevance. Soil types vary among the nesting Our experimental findings may have ecologvironments. Any comparison between geographically distant sites would benefit by inclu- Oakville loamy fine sand, whereas turtles fro areas we studied. Swan Lake turtles nest in sion of as many clutches as possible. Because the other sites nest in silty loam soil types (F clutch effects are important in all variables that renbacher, 1966; Lilly, 1989). Oakville loamy f we and others have studied (i.e., Packard, 1991), sand is very well-drained and has low availab larger numbers of clutches reduce the possibility that any differences observed between geo- loam soil types retain water better than Oakv water capacity (Lilly, 1989). In contrast, the si graphically distant regions are due to maternal does at Swan Lake (Fehrenbacher, 1966; Lil

11 556 J. K. TUCKER AND D. A. WARNER 1989). Because eggs can loose or gain water during incubation depending on water potential (reviewed by Packard, 1991), it may be advantageous for turtles that nest in sandy soil types to lay eggs that respond less rapidly to moisture availability than do the eggs of turtles that nest in silty loam soils. Eggs that take up relatively less moisture during periods with favorable water potentials may also be eggs that loose moisture more slowly during periods when water potential is low and potentially stressful. The possible sources of maternal effects could not be definitively identified. However, for net change in egg mass and hatchling mass, maternal condition may be implicated. For both of these traits, females or eggs that were heavier than predicted (i.e., high least squares means) are associated with eggs that absorbed the most water or eggs that produced the heaviest hatchlings. It is important to note that effects of egg size and location of collection were removed in sources of maternal effects despite their general importance (i.e., Packard, 1991; Janzen et al., 1995; Bernardo, 1996; Tucker et al., 1998a). Our preliminary results underscore the importance of collecting data on female parents and placing this information into context with physiological responses of eggs and embryos. Acknowledgments.-We thank N. I. Filoramo and M. M. Tucker for assistance in the field and laboratory. The females and their eggs were collected under Illinois Department of Natural Resources permit number A to JKT. This work was partially supported by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Upper Mississippi River System Long Term Resource Monitoring Program. Funding for DAW was provided by a summer internship from Department of Zoology and Genetics, Iowa State University and by an Iowa State University research grant to F. J. Janzen. LITERATURE CITED BERNARDO, J Maternal effects in animal ecology. Amer. Zool. 36: tles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, D.C. EWERT, M. A Embryology of turtles. In C. Gans, F Billett, and P. E A. Maderson (eds.), Biology of the Reptilia, pp John Wiley and Sons, New York., AND J. M. LEGLER Hormonal induction of oviposition in turtles. Herpetologica 34: FEHRENBACHER, J. B Soil report Jersey County, Illinois. Univ. Illinois Agric. Exper. Sta. Soil Rep. 84:1-80. FITCH, H. S Variation in clutch and litter size in New World reptiles. Misc. Publ. Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. 76:1-76. GIBBONS, J. W Variation in growth rates in three populations of the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta. Herpetologica 23: Life History and Ecology of the Slider Turtle. Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, D.C., AND D. W. TINKLE Reproductive variation between turtle populations in a single geographic area. Ecology 50: , R. D. SEMLITSCH, J. L. GREENE, AND J. P. 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K Natural history notes on nesting, Accepted: 5 July Journal of of Herpetology, Vol. 33, Vol. No. 33, 4, pp. No , 4, pp , 1999 Copyright Society Society for the for Study the of Study Amphibians of Amphibians and Reptiles and Reptiles Cloacal Popping in Snakes in Snakes BRUCE A. A. YOUNG, KAREN KAREN MELTZER, MELTZER, CARMEN CARMEN MARSIT, AND MARSIT, GEORGE AND ABISHAHIN GEORGE ABISHAHIN Department of Biology, of Biology, Lafayette Lafayette College, Easton, College, Pennsylvania, Easton, Pennsylvania, 18042, USA , youngab@lafayette.edu USA. youngab@lafayette.edu ABSTRACT.-Tactile stimulation stimulation to the Sonoran to the coral Sonoran snake coral (Micruroides snake euryxanthus) (Micruroides and euryxanthus) the western and the weste hook-nosed snake snake (Gyalopion (Gyalopion canum) canum) induces an induces expulsion an of expulsion air from the of cloacal air from vent which the cloacal results in vent an which results in audible popping sound. sound. The behavioral The behavioral context of context cloacal popping of cloacal differs popping these differs two species, in as these does two the species, as does t acoustics of of the the popping popping sound. sound. The cloacal The pops cloacal produced pops by produced M. euryxanthus by M. are euryxanthus rather consistent are and rather consistent an show a a low low amplitude ( ( db), limited db), frequency limited frequency range ( range Hz), distinct ( temporal Hz), patterning, distinct temporal and patterning, an harmonics. The The cloacal cloacal pops released pops released by G. canum by G. are canum more variable; are more the initial variable; pops are the of initial high amplitude pops are of high amplit (70-73 db) db) and and broad broad frequency frequency range (359-15,178 range (359-15,178 Hz), but in subsequent Hz), but pops in subsequent the amplitude pops falls the off and amplitude falls off a the frequency range range narrows; narrows; no temporal no temporal patterning patterning or harmonics or were harmonics observed. Cloacal were popping observed. is driven Cloacal popping is driv primarily by by the the M. Sphincter M. Sphincter cloacae but cloacae may involve but may other involve extrinsic other cloacal extrinsic musculature. cloacal The presence musculature. of The presenc this unusual defensive sound sound in only in these only two these sympatric two snakes sympatric suggests snakes its function suggests against its a common function against a comm predator. With squamate reptiles serving as ecological "model organisms," studies of reptilian ecology, and particularly behavioral ecology, are increasingly popular (Huey et al., 1983; Seigel et al., 1987; Seigel and Collins, 1993). Many aspects of the behavioral ecology of snakes have received little attention from investigators (Greene, 1997). As a group, snakes exhibit a diverse array of