Early environmental influences and material developmental regulation: ecological and evolutionary implications in two Squamate species
type: Dataset
description: Organisms undergo environmental fluctuations and early stages (embryonic life) are especially sensitive to perturbations that can modify developmental trajectories. Embryonic thermal sensitivity is a universal feature in vertebrates and may have been a major selective force in the evolution of parental care (Farmer's hypothesis, 2000). Besides, embryonic development is a complex process and environmental influences can have contrasted effects depending on the timing of exposure. However this variability is insufficiently considered in evolutionary ecology and in studies on parental care. Maternal environment can constitute an interface between the external environment and embryos. Regulation of thermal developmental conditions is widespread in vertebrates. Since ectotherms produce negligible metabolic heal, they have developed a diversity of behavioral and physiological strategies lo buffer the embryos from thermal variations. Prenatal parental care is associated with a shift in maternal behavior with an increase of thermoregulalory activities, as well as strong physiological and energy modifications. We examined the importance of maternal regulation of prenatal conditions in Iwo snakes species with contrasted reproductive modes, one oviparous (Children's python, A. childreni] and the other viviparous (the aspic viper, V. aspis). The originality of this work stems from the explicit consideration of the dynamic nature of embryonic sensitivity and maternal constraints. Our results demonstrated (1) the existence of a stage-dependent thermal sensitivity, with a higher sensitivity lo perturbations early in development; and (2) the importance of accessing preferred température during that period. In parallel, we evidenced a strong maternal investment (behavioural thermoregulation), and associated constraints (risk taking increase, water loss, energetic costs). Our data supported Farmer's theory and the importance of maternal regulation of early stages. This stage-dependen…
landing page: https://theses.hal.science/tel-00691167
keyword: development
keyword: developpement
keyword: infoeu-reposemanticsdoctoralthesis
keyword: ovipares
keyword: oviparous
keyword: prenatal-parental-care
keyword: sdeenvironmental-sciences
keyword: soins-parentaux-prenataux
keyword: squamates
keyword: temperature
keyword: theses
keyword: vivipares
keyword: viviparous
issued: 2026-05-20T20:09:20.373885
modified: 2026-05-20T20:09:20.373893
language: fr
contact point: Organization
  fn: CCSD

test_moissonnage_selune
type: Agent

Early environmental influences and material developmental regulation: ecological and evolutionary implications in two Squamate species
type: Distribution
format: HTML
access URL: https://theses.hal.science/tel-00691167
issued: 2026-05-20T20:09:20.428390
modified: 2026-05-20T20:09:20.334500