Behavioural variation in natural populations. VII. Maternal body temperature does not affect juvenile thermoregulation in a garter snake

This study was aimed to determine whether thermoregulation by juvenile garter snakes is affected by developmental temperature imposed by their mothers during pregnancy. Maternal temperature treatments were created by maintaining six groups of females at six different constant temperatures (2632°C) during pregnancy. A seventh group of females was allowed to thermoregulate during pregnancy. The body temperatures of juveniles (N=324) on thermal gradients were monitored in the morning and afternoon for 5 consecutive days, beginning 5 days after birth. The body temperatures of juveniles were consistent, apparently heritable and remarkably stereotyped. Juvenile body temperature was virtually unaffected by maternal temperature treatment