Mobilization of lipid and protein by embryonic snapping turtles in wet and dry environments

Eggs of common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) were incubated at 26°C on substrates with water potentials of – 150 kPa (wet) and – 850 kPa (dry) to assess the effects on patterns of mobilization of nutrients from the yolk. Embryos developing at – 150 kPa mobilized and incorporated both lipid and protein more rapidly than did embryos developing at – 850 kPa. As a consequence, embryos developing in wet environments hatched at a larger size than did embryos developing in dry settings. This effect of moisture on embryonic metabolism and growth in snapping turtles differs from that found in birds in which embryonic growth apparently is unaffected by moisture.