Mechanism and cost of synchronous hatching

Summary

1. Synchrony in the timing of births is thought to have evolved as a general predator avoidance strategy. In turtles, synchronous hatching may facilitate group emergence from the nest, which in turn, may limit predation by diluting an individual’s risk of predation or by simply swamping predators upon emergence. However, synchronizing hatching should not be easily achieved in natural nests because of thermal gradients affecting developmental rates.

2. We evaluated pipping synchrony in the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), where the drive to hatch synchronously may be reduced, because in many populations, hatching and emergence are dissociated through hatchlings overwintering within a nest.

3. We also assessed developmental mechanisms through which synchrony occurs and explored potential trade-offs between pipping synchrony and individual fitness by determining potential short and long-term neuromuscular developmental costs to hatching prematurely. These data were also used to develop a theoretical model to determine how differential embryonic maturation rates affect hatching synchrony.

4. Underdeveloped embryos pipped much earlier than expected and at similar times to their more advanced sibs. In addition, a trade-off between hatching synchronously and neuromuscular development (motility) was evident several days after hatching and up to 9 months later, after the overwintering period.

5. Synchronous hatching is an ancestral trait in turtles, but its relevance today is not solely for predator avoidance in all species.

6. Abiotic factors during incubation (e.g. temperature regime and moisture) have long-term effects on reptiles during ontogeny but it is also clear that incubation behaviour is major factor for the persistence of these developmental costs.