Acclimatory responses of thermal physiological performances in hatchling yellow pond turtles (Mauremys mutica)

Temperature is a crucial environmental factor that can strongly impact animal physiology. Here, we acclimated hatchling of Asian yellow pond turtles (Mauremys mutica) to one of two different temperatures (25 or 30°C) for four weeks to determine temperature acclimation effects on their physiology. All four measured physiological variables (righting time, resting metabolic rate, critical thermal minimum and critical thermal maximum) were significantly affected by temperature acclimation. Turtles acclimated to 25°C righted themselves more slowly and had a lower mean metabolic rate than 30°C-acclimated turtles. Turtles acclimated to 25°C were more resistant to low temperatures, but less resistant to high temperatures than 30°C-acclimated turtles, as measured by critical thermal limits. The thermal resistance range (i.e., the difference between critical thermal minimum and maximum) did not differ between the two acclimation groups. Compared with other semi-aquatic turtles, M. mutica had relatively higher acclimation response ratios for its critical thermal minimum and critical thermal maximum. Our results indicate that acclimation to relatively moderate temperatures could also produce significant responses in the thermal physiology of turtles.