title: The effects of light exposure during incubation on embryonic development and hatchling traits in lizards.
abstract: Light is an environmental factor that is known to profoundly affect embryonic development in some oviparous vertebrates, but such effects are unstudied in reptiles. We investigated the light sensitivity of lizard embryos by examining the thickness and light transmittance of eggshells as well as the effect of light on embryonic development and hatchling traits in four lizard species, the Chinese skink (Plestiodon chinensis), the northern grass lizard (Takydromus septentrionalis), the oriental leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus bowringii) and the Japanese gecko (Gekko japonicus). The eggshells were thinner and thus had higher light transmittance in Chinese skink than the other three species. Light exposure during incubation significantly accelerated the embryonic development in all species, with higher light intensity resulting in faster embryonic development. Interestingly, light stimulation negatively influenced hatchling size and survival in skinks, but had no effect in lacertids and geckos. This interspecific discrepancy not only relates to the differences in thickness and light transmittance of eggshells, but might also reflect the differences in the reproductive habits of these species. Given the diversity of light conditions that reptile embryos face during development, studies on the response of reptile embryos to light may offer a unique opportunity to understand the mechanisms of embryonic light sensitivity in animals.
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong-Pu
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu-Ran
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shi-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hua-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bao-Jun
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei-Guo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000528:radiation effects; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008027:Light; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable