The Physiology of Overwintering Turtle Hatchlings
Photo by Christian Oldham
| Freeze Avoidance and Freeze Tolerance: An Overview | The Physiology of Overwintering Turtle Hatchlings |
| Supercooling | Reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds rely on the ability to raise their body temperatures. However, reptiles and amphibians are not able to raise their body temperatures themselves, as mammals and birds do (Pough, 1980). While birds and mammals generate energy to raise their body temperatures to appropriate levels (endothermy), reptiles and amphibians obtain the energy to do this from their external environments (ectothermy) through thermoregulatory behavior (Pough, 1980). |
| Freeze Avoidance in Overwintering Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) Hatchlings |
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| Freeze Avoidance in Overwintering Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) Hatchlings | |
Photo by Christian Oldham |
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| Variation in Freeze Tolerance Between Species | As a subset of ectothermic reptiles, various species of turtles are known to possess the ability to survive cold temperatures during winter months at different life stages. Such species employ different methods in overwintering strategies. Overwintering strategies within species may be dependent on morphological characteristics, behavior, or distribution (Packard et al., 1999). |
| Freeze Tolerance in Overwintering Slider (Trachemys scripta) Hatchlings | |
| Freeze Tolerance in Overwintering Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) Hatchlings | |
| Literature Cited | |
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| Contact | This website was created as a part of a class project in the Animal Physiology Class at Davidson College |