A Quantitative Method for Sex Identification in Emydid Turtles Using Secondary Sexual Characters

Readel, Anne M.; Dreslik, Michael J.; Warner, Jonathan K.; Banning, Whitney J.; Phillips, Christopher A.

doi:10.1643/cg-06-039

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Box turtles were collected by hand, while sliders were collected via baited hoopnet traps in freshwater ponds on the University of South Alabama campus (Mobile, AL). Carapace length and width of each individual were measured using calipers and sex was recorded based on plastron morphology for box turtles (St Clair 1998) and body size, front claw length, and tail length and thickness for sliders (Readel et al 2008). Additionally, one common snapping turtle ( Chelydra serpentina ) was sampled for the initial protocol-testing phase of the project.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of the CometChip platform to assess DNA damage in field‐collected blood samples from turtles

Sýkora

Chiari

Heaton

et al. 2018

Environ and Mol Mutagen

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DNA damage has been linked to genomic instability and the progressive breakdown of cellular and organismal homeostasis, leading to the onset of disease and reduced longevity. Insults to DNA from endogenous sources include base deamination, base hydrolysis, base alkylation, and metabolism-induced oxidative damage that can lead to single-strand and double-strand DNA breaks. Alternatively, exposure to environmental pollutants, radiation or ultra-violet light, can also contribute to exogenously derived DNA damage. We previously validated a novel, high through-put approach to measure levels of DNA damage in cultured mammalian cells. This new CometChip Platform builds on the classical single cell gel electrophoresis or comet methodology used extensively in environmental toxicology and molecular biology. We asked whether the CometChip Platform could be used to measure DNA damage in samples derived from environmental field studies. To this end, we determined that nucleated erythrocytes from multiple species of turtle could be successfully evaluated in the CometChip Platform to quantify levels of DNA damage. In total, we compared levels of DNA damage in 40 animals from two species: the box turtle (Terrapene carolina) and the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). Endogenous levels of DNA damage were identical between the two species, yet we did discover some sex-linked differences and changes in DNA damage accumulation. Based on these results, we confirm that the CometChip Platform allows for the measurement of DNA damage in a large number of samples quickly and accurately, and is particularly adaptable to environmental studies using field-collected samples. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 59:322-333, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of the CometChip platform to assess DNA damage in field‐collected blood samples from turtles

Sýkora

Chiari

Heaton

et al. 2018

Environ and Mol Mutagen

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“…Assessment of population demographics, including having accurate numbers of males and females, is vital for proper determination of population status and management techniques (Folt et al 2016, Readel et al 2008). Due to extensive and unsustainable harvest, populations of Alligator Snapping Turtles experienced significant declines up to the 1980s (Pritchard 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining Sexual Size Dimorphism in an Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) Population in Southwest Georgia: Use of Morphometrics, Ultrasonography, and Testosterone

Rostal

Teare

Marley

et al. 2023

Southeastern Naturalist

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We studied the determination of sex for intermediate size classes and adult sexual dimorphism in a Georgia population of Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle). We sexed turtles when possible based on size and morphometrics. We took blood samples from captured individuals and measured plasma testosterone using enzyme-linked immunoassay. We examined females and individuals for which sex was unknown using ultrasound to determine sex and reproductive status. We used testosterone concentration to confirm individual sex assignments. For all biometric measurements, adult males were larger than females. Testosterone concentrations were higher in adult and subadult males than in females. Head width did not differ between the sexes when adjusted for body size. Plastron-to-vent length (cm) and testosterone concentrations were significantly greater in adult and subadult male turtles compared to females and were valuable in determining sex of smaller adults >25 cm straight-midline carapace length.

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“…Turtle tails exhibit morphological differences between the sexes that are relevant for mating, such as contrasting size, texture, or the relative position of the cloaca (JF & R 1980). For instance, tails are sexually dimorphic in Trachemys scripta turtles, a emydid close relative of C. picta, (ERNST 1971;Readel et al 2008), yet we did not observe sexually dimorphic DNA methylation in the hatchling tails, perhaps because the tail dimorphism…”

Section: Contrasting Patterns Of Dna Methylation Between Somatic and ...mentioning

confidence: 59%

“…has not yet developed in painted turtle hatchlings (Readel et al 2008) or because its development is not controlled epigenetically via DNA methylation. Further, the painted turtle does not rely on male combat or forced insemination, two mating strategies linked to male-specific body size and shape (ERNST 1971;JF & R 1980).…”

Section: Contrasting Patterns Of Dna Methylation Between Somatic and ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we investigated the global and local DNA methylation in the tail tissue of Chrysemys picta hatchlings, and its potential use as a sexing technique for TSD turtles, using a multi-pronged approach. We chose tails because their shape is sexually dimorphic in turtles of the family Emydidae to which C. picta belongs (Readel et al 2008), and because tail clips can be easily collected in the field without sacrificing the individual. Our analysis included methylationsensitive ELISA (global), plus a novel hybrid method we developed that provides global and local methylation information by combining MeDIP-seq with BS-seq (MeDIP-BS-seq).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of incubation temperature on genome-wide DNA methylation and expression of sexual development genes in the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta

Mizoguchi¹

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A Quantitative Method for Sex Identification in Emydid Turtles Using Secondary Sexual Characters

Cited by 12 publications

References 20 publications

Application of the CometChip platform to assess DNA damage in field‐collected blood samples from turtles

Application of the CometChip platform to assess DNA damage in field‐collected blood samples from turtles

Determining Sexual Size Dimorphism in an Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) Population in Southwest Georgia: Use of Morphometrics, Ultrasonography, and Testosterone

Effects of incubation temperature on genome-wide DNA methylation and expression of sexual development genes in the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta

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