Effects of physical disturbances on egg incubation in the Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei): Implications for embryo survival during hurricanes

Abstract

Eggs of reptiles that inhabit hurricane-prone regions are often subjected to environmental stressors caused by
these storms. Some studies have examined how stress resulting from submersion in water or exposure to salinity affects
embryonic development and hatching success, but none have evaluated the effects of physical disturbances associated
with strong winds. To demonstrate plausible effects of physical stressors associated with hurricane-force winds, we simulated
two situations that are likely experienced by eggs of Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei), which inhabit areas affected by
frequent hurricanes. First, we simulated conditions during which eggs are blown or dropped from a standard 3-m height
(e.g., like those in arboreal nests); second, we shook eggs to simulate physical disturbances associated with being vigorously
blown by strong winds. We then compared hatching success, body size, and running performance of offspring
from these treatments to control eggs/hatchings that were not disturbed during incubation. We demonstrated that eggs
that were dropped had reduced hatching success compared to both the shaken and control groups, but those shaken did
not differ from the control group. Additionally, we found no differences in hatchling body size or performance among
treatments. Overall, our study demonstrated some resilience of Brown Anole eggs to major disturbances, which might
contribute to the success of this species in highly disturbed habitats throughout its native and invasive ranges.