A guide to incubate eggs of Tropidurus lizards under laboratory conditions. Issue 7 (8th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rossigalli‐Costa, Nathalia; Cury de Barros, Fábio; Cipriano, Ana Paula; Prado Prandini, Luísa; Medeiros de Andrade, Thayná; Rothier, Priscila S.; Lofeu, Leandro; Brandt, Renata; Kohlsdorf, Tiana
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental zoology. Volume 336:Issue 7(2021)
• Page Start: 576
• Page End: 584
• Publication Date: 2021-09-08
• Subjects: development -- embryos -- humidity -- temperature -- Tropiduridae; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; Molecular evolution -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; Evolution, Molecular -- Periodicals; Developmental Biology -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; 591
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23095
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5007

Abstract

Abstract: Studies in Evo‐Devo benefit from the use of a variety of organisms, as comparative approaches provide a better understanding of Biodiversity and Evolution. Standardized protocols to incubate eggs and manipulate embryo development enable postulation of additional species as suitable biological systems for research in the field. In the past decades, vertebrate lineages such as Squamata (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) emerged as crucial study systems for addressing topics as diverse as phenotypic evolution and climate change. However, protocols for maintaining gravid females and incubating eggs in the lab under experimental conditions are available to only a few squamate species. This resource article presents a simple incubation guide that standardizes conditions to maintain embryos of Tropidurus catalanensis (Squamata: Tropiduridae) under different experimental conditions, manipulating relevant environmental factors like temperature and humidity. We identified associated effects relating the egg incubation condition to developmental stage, incubation time, hatching success, and resulting morphotypes. Temperature and humidity play a key role in development and require attention when establishing the experimental design. Current literature comprises information for Tropidurus lizards that ponders how general in Squamata are the ecomorphs originally described for Anolis . Studies evaluating phenotypic effects of developmental environments suggest plasticity in some of the traits that characterize the ecomorphological associations described for this family. We expect that this incubation guide encourages future studies using Tropidurus lizards to address Evo‐Devo questions. Abstract : Developmental environments affect hatching and body size in Tropidurus catalanensis Research Highlights: We provide a guide to incubate embryos of Tropidurus lizards under different experimental conditions, accessing the effects of developmental environments on hatching success, developmental rates, and neonate phenotypes.