Mothers matter too: benefits of temperature oviposition preferences in newts

0363067 - ÚBO 2012 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Kurdíková, Vendula - Smolinský, Radovan - Gvoždík, Lumír
Mothers matter too: benefits of temperature oviposition preferences in newts.
PLoS ONE. Roč. 6, č. 8 (2011), e23842. ISSN 1932-6203. E-ISSN 1932-6203
R&D Projects: GA ČR GAP506/10/2170; GA MŠMT LC06073
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : oviposition-site choice * predator-prey interactions * offspring performance
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 4.092, year: 2011

We evaluated benefits of temperature oviposition preferences in Alpine newts by comparing the thermal sensitivity of maternal and offspring traits across a range of preferred oviposition temperatures and by manipulating the egg-predation risk during oviposition in a laboratory thermal gradient. All traits showed varying responses to oviposition temperatures. Embryonic developmental rates increased with oviposition temperature, whereas hatchling size and swimming capacity showed the opposite pattern. Maternal oviposition and egg-predation rates were highest at the intermediate temperature. In the thermal gradient, females oviposited at the same temperature despite the presence of caged egg-predators, water beetles (Agabus bipustulatus). We conclude that female newts prefer a particular temperature for egg-deposition to maximize their oviposition performance rather than offspring fitness.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0199173