The evolution of reproductive strategies in turtles

Author:

Jorgewich-Cohen Gabriel1,Henrique Rafael S.2,Dias Pedro Henrique3,Sánchez-Villagra Marcelo R.1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

2. Laboratório de Anfíbios, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

3. Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Optimal egg size theory assumes that changes in the egg and clutch are driven by selection, resulting in adjustments for the largest possible production of offspring with the highest fitness. Evidence supports the idea that large-bodied turtles tend to produce larger clutches with small and round eggs, while smaller species produce small clutches with large and elongated eggs. Our goals were to investigate whether egg and clutch size follow the predictions of egg size theory, if there are convergent reproductive strategies, and identify ecological factors that influence clutch and egg traits across all clades of living turtles. Using phylogenetic methods, we tested the covariance among reproductive traits, if they are convergent among different turtle lineages, and which ecological factors influence these traits. We found that both egg shape and size inversely correlate with clutch size, although with different evolutionary rates, following the predictions of the egg size theory. We also present compelling evidence for convergence among different turtle clades, over at least two reproductive strategies. Furthermore, climatic zone is the only ecological predictor to influence both egg size and fecundity, while diet only influences egg size. We conclude that egg and clutch traits in Testudines evolved independently several times across non-directly related clades that converged to similar reproductive strategies. Egg and clutch characteristics follow the trade-offs predicted by egg size theory and are influenced by ecological factors. Climatic zone and diet play an important role in the distribution of reproductive characteristics among turtles.

Funder

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship

SNF Grant

Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students

Publisher

PeerJ

Subject

General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Medicine,General Neuroscience

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