Population Biology of Environmental Gender-Determination in Chrysemys picta

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9629529 Janzen For most animals gender is determined by the chromosomes. In several groups of vertebrate animals gender is determined by the temperature experienced during embryonic development. This project will investigate the biology of temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in a natural population of the turtle Chrysemys picta. It will consider how egg size, nest-site selection, and predation affect offspring survival and sex ratio. Nesting females will be followed from year to year to study nest-site consistency. This project will help explain why some groups of animals have their gender determined by temperature rather than by chromosomes. This extends understanding of what affects fertility and sex ratio in natural populations. This project will show how habitat use and predators affect population dynamics in animals with TSD. Many such species are endangered and this information can help their conservation.