Incubation temperature affects post-natal growth rate but not hatching size in the lizard Anolis caroliensis

Background/Question/Methods

The incubation environment of oviparous ectotherms plays an important role in shaping the morphology and performance of resultant offspring.  I examined the effects on incubation temperature on embryonic development, hatching morphology and subsequent growth in multiple populations of the lizard Anolis carolinensis under laboratory conditions. 

Results/Conclusions

Cooler incubation temperatures resulted in longer incubation periods but did not affect conversion of egg mass to hatchling mass.  Incubation temperature did not affect hatchling mass or SVL, but did affect subsequent growth in both mass and SVL which varied by population.  Cooler incubation temperatures generally resulted in greater overall growth over eight weeks of housing all juveniles in a common laboratory environment.