Environmental influences on hormones and reproduction in reptiles

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Publication Title

Hormones and Reproduction of Vertebrates Reptiles Volume 3 Second Edition

Abstract

Reptiles are the most biologically diverse lineage of tetrapods. They inhabit a wide range of habitats and exhibit a broad range of life histories and reproductive strategies. Many species of reptiles are negatively impacted by human activities, including anthropogenic climate change and environmental contamination. Climate change has led to phenological shifts in reproductive seasonality in reptiles, altered primary sex ratios of species that exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination, and threatens species that live near or nest along coastal habitats impacted by sea level rise and extreme weather events. Many environmental contaminants are capable of mimicking or disrupting hormone signaling at sublethal concentrations and are referred to as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). There is a large body of research to suggest that EDCs are likely responsible for reduced reproductive success in naturally exposed populations of reptiles. Lab-based studies show that EDCs affect reptiles through interactions with hormone receptors and alterations of hormone synthesis, transport, and degradation. Epigenomic and transcriptomic responses to environmental contaminants are increasing our understanding of how EDCs impact reptile physiology.

First Page

341

Last Page

365

DOI

10.1016/B978-0-443-16022-6.00012-3

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