Shifts in hatching date of American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in southern Florida |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK;2. Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York, UK;3. Private Practitioner, Naples, Italy;4. Clinica Veterinaria Malpensa, Samarate(VA), Italy;1. Immunology Unit, Hospital of Meixoiero, Vigo, Spain;2. School of Computer Science, University of Vigo, Ourense 32004, Spain |
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Abstract: | Globally temperature of marine environments is on the rise and temperature plays an important role in the life-history of reptiles. In this study, we examined the relationship between sea surface temperature and average date of hatching for American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) over a 37-year period at two nesting sites, Everglades National Park and Florida Power and Light Turkey Point Power Plant site in southern Florida. Our results indicate that hatch dates are shifting 1.5 days earlier every two years and at half that rate for the Turkey Point site, and with every 1 °C degree increase in temperature, hatching occurs about 10 days earlier in the Everglades and 6 days earlier at Turkey Point. Our results on shifting hatch dates for American crocodiles provide further details about the impacts of temperature change on crocodile life history and suggest that increased temperature may affect their phenology. |
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Keywords: | Crocodilians Global warming Nest timing Phenology Sea surface temperature |
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