Premium
Short‐term changes in incubation temperature: Behavioral and physiological effects in the chick embryo from 6 to 20 days
Author(s) -
Oppenheim Ronald W.,
Levin Hinda L.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.420080203
Subject(s) - incubation , hatching , embryo , biology , respiration , andrology , endocrinology , zoology , medicine , motility , anatomy , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
In 3 experiments we have attempted to determine the extent to which the chick embryo is behaviorally and physiologically responsive to short term changes (.5–2 hr) in the normal ambient incubation temperature. Embryos ranging in age from 6–20 days of incubation have been examined after exposure to temperatures ranging from 30.5° to 44.4°C (normal incubator and nesting tempertures are 37–38°C). At 6, 9, and 12 days of age the heart rate and the duration of amnion contractions were significantly altered by exposure to tempertures either higher or lower than normal although overt neuromuscular activity (motility) remains unchanged. At 15 and 20 days, however, (hatching occurs on Day 21) the rate of neuromuscular activity is altered at both low and high temperatures. At 20 days, beak‐clapping, vocalization, and respiration rates also change reliably upon short‐term exposure to both high and low temperatures. The possibility is discussed that embryonic responsiveness to temperature changes in the environment during natural incubation may play some role in later behavioral capabilities.