Melatonin and behavioral thermoregulation in the turtle, Terrapene carolina triunguis

Erskine, Dale J.; Hutchison, Victor H.

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(81)90198-0

Cited by 28 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Our estimates of T set (27.0 – 31.0 °C) and mean preferred T b (28.8 °C) are higher than the preferred T b reported for T. carolina elsewhere (20 – 25 °C; Erskine and Hutchison, 1981; do Amaral et al, 2002 a , b ). Compared more broadly to other species, our estimates of preferred T b are within the upper range reported for turtles from temperate regions; 20.7 – 22.4 °C for Sternotherus odoratus (Graham and Hutchison, 1979); 21.1 – 24.9 °C for Clemmys guttata (Graham and Hutchison, 1979); 22.0 – 27.0 °C for Glyptemys insculpta (Dubois et al, 2008); 22.0 – 27.2 °C for Chrysemys picta (Graham and Hutchison, 1979; Edwards and Blouin-Demers, 2007); 24.6 – 29.1 °C for Trachemys scripta (Gatten, 1974); 28.1 °C for Chelydra serpentina (Schuett and Gatten, 1980); 28.3 – 29.8 °C for Terrapere ornata (Gatten, 1974), and 28.7 – 32.5 °C for Graptemys geographica (Bulté and Blouin-Demers, 2010).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

Thermal biology of eastern box turtles in a longleaf pine system managed with prescribed fire

Roe

Wild

Hall

2017

Journal of Thermal Biology

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Fire can influence the microclimate of forest habitats by removing understory vegetation and surface debris. Temperature is often higher in recently burned forests owing to increased light penetration through the open understory. Because physiological processes are sensitive to temperature in ectotherms, we expected fire-maintained forests to improve the suitability of the thermal environment for turtles, and for turtles to seasonally associate with the most thermally-optimal habitats. Using a laboratory thermal gradient, we determined the thermal preference range (Tset) of eastern box turtles, Terrapene carolina, to be 27 – 31 °C. Physical models simulating the body temperatures experienced by turtles in the field revealed that surface environments in a fire-maintained longleaf pine forest were 3 °C warmer than adjacent unburned mixed hardwood/pine forests, but the fire-maintained forest was never of superior thermal quality owing to wider Te fluctuations above Tset and exposure to extreme and potentially lethal temperatures. Radiotracked turtles using fire-managed longleaf pine forests maintained shell temperatures (Ts) approximately 2 °C above those at a nearby unburned forest, but we observed only moderate seasonal changes in habitat use which were inconsistent with thermoregulatory behavior. We conclude that turtles were not responding strongly to the thermal heterogeneity generated by fire in our system, and that other aspects of the environment are likely more important in shaping habitat associations.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

Thermal biology of eastern box turtles in a longleaf pine system managed with prescribed fire

Roe

Wild

Hall

2017

Journal of Thermal Biology

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“…For example, treatment with MEL (4 mg·kg -1 body mass (M b )) decreased mean preferred T b in N. maculosus Hutchison 1981). Similar responses to MEL (4 and 8 mg·kg -1 M b ) were observed in T. c. triunguis (Erskine and Hutchison 1981). Turtles receiving the higher dose (8 mg·kg -1 M b ) selected a significantly lower mean preferred T b than those receiving the lower dose (4 mg·kg -1 M b ).…”

Section: Role Of Melatonin In Thermoregulationsupporting

confidence: 61%

“…Turtles receiving the higher dose (8 mg·kg -1 M b ) selected a significantly lower mean preferred T b than those receiving the lower dose (4 mg·kg -1 M b ). However, the authors acknowledge that these different treatment groups were tested at different times of the year, hence the observed dose-response may be the result of seasonal variation in mean preferred T b (Erskine and Hutchison 1981).…”

Section: Role Of Melatonin In Thermoregulationmentioning

confidence: 92%

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Melatonin and thermoregulation in ectothermic vertebrates: a review

Lutterschmidt¹,

Lutterschmidt²,

Hutchison³

2003

Can. J. Zool.

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Precise behavioral thermoregulation is well documented in many ectothermic vertebrates. However, many complexities involving the influence of the pineal gland and melatonin (MEL) on thermoregulatory behavior, and thus body temperature (T b ), remain unresolved. Although MEL is commonly considered to decrease T b in both endotherms and ectotherms, several ectothermic species do not modulate T b in response to MEL. Furthermore, it is not yet clear how MEL integrates thermoregulatory behavior with environmental stimuli or how it modulates T b . Some inferences about MEL action in endotherms are not applicable to ectotherms. Changes in ectothermic T b are mediated primarily through behavioral modulation (not physiological modulation as in endotherms). Thus, the most likely mechanism underlying MEL's actions on ectothermic T b is adjustment of the temperature set point in the hypothalamus. We provide a review of the literature addressing the effects of MEL on thermoregulatory behavior in ectothermic vertebrates. We also discuss mechanisms underlying MEL's influence on physiological and behavioral processes in ectotherms and hypotheses regarding interspecific differences in pineal complex and MEL function.Résumé : La thermorégulation comportementale chez les vertébrés ectothermes est un phénomène bien connu. Cependant, des relations complexes concernant l'influence de la glande pinéale et de la mélatonine (MEL) sur le comportement thermorégulateur et, par conséquent, sur la température du corps (T b ), restent à préciser. Bien que MEL soit souvent considérée comme facteur de chute de la température T b , aussi bien chez les endothermes que chez les ectothermes, plusieurs espèces ectothermes ne modifient pas leur température T b en réaction à MEL. De plus, il reste encore à établir comment la mélatonine intègre le comportement thermorégulateur et les stimulus environnementaux et comment elle cause des modulations de la température T b . Certaines conclusions au sujet de l'action de MEL chez les endothermes ne se vérifient pas chez les ectothermes. Les modulations de la température T b chez les ectothernes sont comportementales (pas physiologiques comme chez les endothermes). Le mécanisme qui est le plus susceptible de contrôler l'action de MEL sur la température T b ectothermique consiste donc en un ajustement du réglage de la tempéra-ture dans l'hypothalamus. Nous proposons ici une revue de la littérature sur les effets de MEL sur le comportement themorégulateur des vertébrés ectothermes. Nous examinons les mécanismes qui peuvent être sous-jacents à l'influence qu'exerce MEL sur les processus physiologiques et comportementaux des vertébrés ectothermes et nous discutons des hypothèses expliquant les différences interspécifiques dans le fonctionnement de la glande pinéale et de MEL.[Traduit par la Rédaction] 13 Lutterschmidt et al.

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“…Such situations can lead to death over a longer period due to egg binding. 4. Stress caused by transport of pregnant females.…”

Section: Heat Without Lightmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathophysiology: Assessment of the husbandry problems of reptiles on the basis of pathophysiological findings: A review

Zwart

2001

Veterinary Quarterly

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SUMMARYMany health problems in animals are related to management and feeding. A large number of husbandry problems in reptiles lead to pathophysiological situations. Assessment of the husbandry problems of reptiles involves detective work that can only be achieved as a result of close cooperation and exchange of information between the owner and the pathologist. Reptiles, being ectothermic, depend for their physiological functioning largely on the quality of their surroundings. There are a large number of factors which influence the normal functioning of a reptile both in nature and in captivity. These factors can be described in terms of primary and secondary factors.Primary factors are the construction of terraria, light, heat, food, and water, and grouping of animals. Secondary factors are daylight regimen, arrangement of heating elements, type and composition of food, quality of water, and freedom from stress. Also important are ventilation, humidity, sites for resting and/or hiding, structure of the floor and of rocks, and branches for climbing activities.Hygiene is also an important aspect because poor hygiene often is directly related to problems. All these factors are dealt with in this review.

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Melatonin and behavioral thermoregulation in the turtle, Terrapene carolina triunguis

Cited by 28 publications

References 17 publications

Thermal biology of eastern box turtles in a longleaf pine system managed with prescribed fire

Thermal biology of eastern box turtles in a longleaf pine system managed with prescribed fire

Melatonin and thermoregulation in ectothermic vertebrates: a review

Pathophysiology: Assessment of the husbandry problems of reptiles on the basis of pathophysiological findings: A review

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