Good alimentation can overcome the negative effects of climate change on growth in reptiles

Climate change may lead to higher nest temperatures, which may increase embryo development rate, but reduce hatchling size and growth. Larger body size permits better performance, making growth an important fitness trait. In ectotherms, growth is affected by temperature and food quality. To segregate the effects of incubation temperature vs. alimentation on the growth of the Mexican black spiny tailed iguana Ctenosaura pectinata, we incubated eggs at 29 and 32ºC, and hatchlings were kept at 30ºC and fed either high- or low-quality food for one year, recording body size and mass every two weeks. Iguanas incubated at 29ºC grew faster than those incubated at 32ºC. However, food quality had a stronger effect on growth than incubation temperature; iguanas fed with high-quality food reached larger body sizes. Growth models suggested that differences in growth between incubation temperatures and food types remain throughout their lives. We found that incubation temperature had long-lasting eff...