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opencc-by-4.0Dec 2022View details →

Nematode biomass changes along an elevational gradient are trophic group dependent but independent of body size

Data supporting "Nematode biomass changes along an elevational gradient are trophic group dependent but independent of body size"

opencc-zeroJun 2023View details →

A Great Escape: resource availability and density-dependence shape population dynamics along trailing range edges

Populations along geographical range limits are often exposed to unsuitable climate and low resource availability relative to core populations. As such, there has been a renewed focus on understanding the factors that determine range limits to better predict how species will respond to global change. Using recent theory on range limits and classical understanding of density dependence, we evaluated the influence of resource availability on the snowshoe hare Lepus americanus along its trailing range edge. We estimated variation in population density, habitat use, survival, and parasite loads to test the Great Escape Hypothesis (GEH), i.e. that density dependence determines, in part, a species' persistence along trailing edges. We found that variability in resource availability affected density and population fluctuations and led to trade-offs in survival for snowshoe hare populations in the northeastern USA. Hares living in resource-limited environments had lower and less variable population density, yet higher survival and lower parasitism compared to populations living in resource-rich environments. We suggest that density-dependent dynamics, elicited by resource availability, provide hares a unique survival advantage and partly explain persistence along their trailing edge. We hypothesize that this low-density escape from predation and parasitism occurs for other prey species along trailing edges, but the extent to which it occurs is likely conditional on the quality of matrix habitat. Our work indicates that biotic factors play an important role in shaping species' trailing edges and more detailed examination of non-climatic factors is warranted to better inform conservation and management decisions.

opencc-zeroJun 2023View details →

From seed dispersal service to reproductive collapse: density-dependent outcome of a palm-mammal interaction

Interspecific ecological interactions are inherently context-dependent. They may vary in both magnitude and sign depending on the biotic and abiotic conditions, depicting a mutualism-antagonism continuum. However, how population abundances and the activity of interacting species modulate these interactions remains underexplored. Here, we chose the interaction between the Mediterranean palm Chamaerops humilis and the feral goat Capra hircus in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). We selected three study plots with low, intermediate and high intensities of goat activity where we characterized palm distribution, seed rain, seed predation, and early palm recruitment during two consecutive years. Since goats can cause both costs (e.g. florivory) and benefits (e.g. seed dispersal) to C. humilis performance, we investigated the following three questions: (1) Does the spatial distribution of adult palms vary depending on the intensity of goat activity? (2) Does the intensity of goat activity influence seed rain and its potential spatial association with adult palms? (3) To what extent does the intensity of goat activity determine post-dispersal events such as seed predation and seedling emergence? We found that adult palms showed a more clumped and complex distribution (double-cluster process) in plots with low and intermediate goat activity compared to that with high goat activity (simple-cluster process). In the low goat activity plot, dispersed seeds were spatially aggregated around adult palms, showing twice insect-seed predation and nearly three times lower seed germination success than those in the intermediate goat activity plot. Palm seed dispersal and recruitment were almost nil in the high goat activity plot due to heavy consumption of palm inflorescences and developing fruits by goats. Our findings demonstrate how the net outcome of plant-animal interactions can change from mutualism to antagonism, from reproductive service to reproductive collapse, depending on the abundance and the activity of the interacting species.

opencc-zeroJun 2023View details →

Data from: Trait-dependent associations between early- and late-life reproduction in a wild mammal

Early- versus late-life trade-offs are a central prediction of life-history theory that are expected to shape the evolution of ageing. While ageing is widely observed in wild vertebrates, evidence that early–late trade-offs influence ageing rates remains limited. Vertebrate reproduction is a complex, multi-stage process, yet few studies have examined how different aspects of early-life reproductive allocation shape late-life performance and ageing. Here, we use longitudinal data from a 36-year study of wild Soay sheep to show that early-life reproduction predicts late-life reproductive performance in a trait-dependent manner. Females that started breeding earlier showed more rapid declines in annual fecundity with age, consistent with a trade-off. However, age-related declines in offspring first-year survival and birth weight were not associated with early-life reproduction. Selective disappearance was evident in all three late-life reproductive measures, with longer-lived females having higher average performance. Our results provide mixed support for early–late reproductive trade-offs and show that the way early-life reproduction shapes late-life performance and ageing can differ among reproductive traits.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2023View details →

Data for effects of multiple drivers of environmental change on native and invasive macroalgae in nearshore groundwater dependent ecosystems

Okuhata, B.K., Delevaux, J.M.S., Richards Donà, A., Smith, C.M., Gibson, V.L., Dulai, H., El-Kadi, A.I., Stamoulis, K., Burnett, K.M., Wada, C.A., Bremer, L.L., Effects of multiple drivers of environmental change on native and invasive macroalgae in nearshore groundwater dependent ecosystems Environmental change scenarios, with a spatial extent of the Keauhou basal aquifer (Hawai‘i), were produced using a recharge coverage from Engott (2011), land use coverages from the State of Hawai‘i (2022) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2006); climate change calculations based on Elison Timm et al. (2015), and native forest conversion calculations from Bremer et al. (2021). Scenarios were developed based on the following assumptions: Scenario 0 (Baseline) assumes current land use, groundwater recharge, and groundwater withdrawal rates (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2006; State of Hawai‘i, 2022; Engott, 2011; Commission on Water Resource Management, unpublished data, 2018). Please see Okuhata et al. (2021) for more details regarding the scenario assumptions for the baseline groundwater model. Scenario 1 (Climate Change) assumes current land use, but with Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 mid-century rainfall projections (Elison Timm et al., 2015), where rainfall and recharge calculations were based on estimates from Giambelluca et al. (2013) and Engott (2011).  Scenario 2 (Urban Development) assumes RCP 8.5 mid-century rainfall conditions along with future permitted development, which includes an increase in water demand (Fukunaga & Associates, Inc., 2017).  Scenario 3 (Native Forest Conversion + Urban Development) assumes RCP 8.5 mid-century rainfall conditions and future permitted development, along with the assumption that native forests are not protected and converted to non-native forests (Bremer et al., 2021), therefore altering recharge estimates (Wada et al., 2017; Engott, 2011). Please note that scenario numbers listed in the groundwater model and marine water quality model shapefiles may differ from the manuscript scenario numbers. The following table assigns the scenario numbers to their respective scenarios in the manuscript, groundwater model, and marine water quality model. <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Scenario Name </td> <td> Manuscript # </td> <td> Groundwater Model # </td> <td> Marine Water Quality Model # </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Baseline </td> <td> Scenario 0 </td> <td> Scenario 1 </td> <td> Scenario 0 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Climate Change </td> <td> Scenario 1 </td> <td> Scenario 2 </td> <td> Scenario 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Urban Development </td> <td> Scenario 2 </td> <td> Scenario 7 </td> <td> Scenario 6 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Native Forest Conversion + Urban Development </td> <td> Scenario 3 </td> <td> Scenario 5 </td> <td> Scenario 4 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The groundwater model results are in shapefile format and were produced using the program SEAWAT (Langevin et al., 2008). The spatial extent is the Keauhou basal aquifer, and the projection is NAD 1983 UTM Zone 4N. The two polygon shapefiles represent the first and second layers of the groundwater model, and include groundwater level (meters relative to mean sea level), salinity (parts per thousand), temperature (degrees Celsius), nitrogen (milligrams per liter), and phosphorus (milligrams per liter) results under the assumptions of each scenario. The point shapefile represents the simulated discharge at SGD plumes under the assumptions of each scenario. The marine water quality model results are in floating point TIFF format and were produced using the program R software. The spatial extent is the coastal area of the Keauhou aquifer system, and the geographic coordinate system is WGS 1984. The files include the groundwater discharge (cubic meters per month), salinity (parts per thousand), temperature (degrees Celsius), nitrogen (kilograms per month), and phosphorus (kilograms per month) results under the assumptions of each scenario. The limu model results are in shapefile format and were produced using the program R software. The spatial extent is the coastal area of the Keauhou aquifer system, and the geographic coordinate system is WGS 1984. The files include the increase and decrease in area (hectares) for Ulva lactuca and Hypnea musciformis under the assumptions of each scenario. The limu experiment results are derived from a csv file, which reports the Ulva lactuca and Hypnea musciformis measured weights (initial and final) for each growth run. These were used to calculate the weight difference. Included also in the dataset are the fixed and random effects used in the R script to run the model. Contact Leah Bremer (<a href="mailto:lbremer@hawaii.edu">lbremer@hawaii.edu</a>) or Brytne Okuhata (bokuhata@hawaii.edu) of the University of Hawaiʻi for more information on these files.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2023View details →

Dataset of paper "Removal of diclofenac by UV-B and UV-C light-emitting diodes (LEDs) driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs): Wavelength dependence, kinetic modelling and energy consumption"

Dataset of paper "Removal of diclofenac by UV-B and UV-C light-emitting diodes (LEDs) driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs): Wavelength dependence, kinetic modelling and energy consumption" <ul> <li>Molar absorption coefficient of the DCF (pH 7.2), FC (pH 8.5), and H2O2 (pH 6.5) in the wavelength range of 200-400 nm. </li> <li>Time-based and UV fluence-based kinetic constant and synergy factor for the DCF degradation.</li> <li>Diclofenac degradation fitted by the proposed models (UV/H2O2 and UV/FC).</li> <li>Oxidant degradation fitted by the proposed models (UV/H2O2 and UV/FC).</li> </ul>

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2023View details →

The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate

The three files contain all data (Data S1) and all R code to produce all tables and figures of the manuscript entitled "The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate".

Data for: Age and an obesogenic diet affect mouse behaviour in a sex-dependent manner

Obesity is rising globally and is associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders among children, adolescents, and young adults. Whether obesity is the cause or the consequence of these disorders remains unclear. To examine the behavioural effects of obesity systematically, locomotion, anxiety, and social behaviour were assessed in male and female C57Bl/6J mice using the open field, elevated plus maze and social preference task. First, the effects of age and sex were examined in control mice, before investigating post-weaning consumption of a high fat, high sugar diet commonly consumed in human populations with high rates of obesity. In the open field and elevated plus maze, locomotor activity and anxiety-related behaviours reduced with aging in both sexes, but with different sex-specific profiles. The high fat, high sugar diet reduced food and calorie intake and increased body mass and fat deposition in both sexes. In the open field, both male and female mice on the obesogenic diet showed reduced locomotion, whereas, in the elevated plus maze, only females on the obesogenic diet displayed reduced anxiety-related behaviours. Both male and female mice on the obesogenic diet had a significantly higher social preference index than controls. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that the behavioural effects of age and of diet-induced obesity all depend on the sex of the mouse. This emphasises the importance of considering the age of the animal and including both sexes when assessing behavioural phenotypes arising from dietary manipulations.

Data from: Body size-dependent effects on the distribution patterns of phoretic mite species assemblages on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790)

Phoretic mites attach to different body parts of the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790), to disperse. However, the question of how the patterns of attachment sites are formed remains intriguing. Here, we examined RPW-associated phoretic mites in four districts in Northern Portugal (macrohabitat), and investigated the patterns of mite distribution on six body parts of RPW (microhabitat). At the macrohabitat level, we detected seven phoretic mite taxa using the RPW host in each of the four studied districts, all documented for the first time in association with this invasive exotic species in Portugal. However, their relative abundance (species evenness) varied between districts, as did species diversity. All examined weevils carried mites, and the prevalence of the different taxa did not differ between districts or sex of weevils. Measured by mean abundance and degree of aggregation, Centrouropoda sp. proved to be the dominant taxon, while Acarus sp. and Curculanoetus rhynchophorus were considered common subordinate taxa and Uroovobella sp., Mesostigmata, Nenteria extremica and Dendrolaelaps sp. sparse taxa. At the microhabitat level, all taxa were present on all body parts of the RPW; the highest abundance was in a region encompassing the inner surface of the elytra and the membranous hind wings (subelytral space). Analysis of niche overlap revealed that the distribution patterns of phoretic mite taxa on the RPW were not randomly structured. In the subelytral space, interspecific coexistence of mites increased as a function of body size difference with the dominant Centrouropoda sp. We found that in the subelytral space the large dominant species Centrouropoda sp. displaced the larger species Uroobovella sp. and the similarly sized species Nenteria extremica, but coexisted with smaller taxa.

Context‐dependent expression of variation in defensive behaviour in the lower termite Zootermopsis nevadensis

Eusocial animals exhibit a sophisticated division of labour. The self-organized colony requires coordination of local interactions at the individual level. Termites are a well-known group exhibiting social organization among castes within a colony, and helper castes have facilitated their ecological and evolutionary success. Termites have soldier castes specialized in defence, but other castes are also known to exhibit defensive behaviour depending on the context. However, it is unclear how the variation in the frequencies of defensive behaviour emerged. Here, we investigate the effects of presence of nestmates on individual defensive behaviour in the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. We experimentally prepared three conditions and observed biting behaviour against the ant Camponotus obscuripes. First, the frequency of biting was significantly higher in soldiers than that in pseudergates (i.e., workers) under isolated conditions. Second, the results showed that the frequencies of biting exhibited by soldiers were much higher than those of pseudergates in the pseudergate–soldier pairs. Finally, we investigated the social conditions in the presence of the same castes, that is, pseudergate–pseudergate and soldier–soldier pairs. The frequencies of biting exhibited by first-biting individuals were significantly higher than those exhibited by second-biting individuals in both paired conditions. Our findings demonstrate that defensive behaviour can be frequently observed in first-biting individuals despite the presence of two individuals of the same caste, suggesting that the variation of defensive behaviour may be increased in the presence of nestmates.

Flower strip effectiveness for pollinating insects in agricultural landscapes depends on established contrast in habitat quality: A meta-analysis

Flower strips have become a prevalent measure in agricultural landscapes to counteract biodiversity loss and especially promote pollinators. Although their benefits for pollinating insects have been frequently evaluated and reported, generalized conclusions about optimal settings for effective flower strips are still difficult. From the perspective of pollinators, flower strips vary distinctly in habitat quality, and the same applies for the control sites selected for scientific studies. In this study, we used a meta-analytic approach based on a systematic review of recent studies (2009-2020) to analyze the relationship between flower strip effectiveness for pollinators and the contrast in habitat quality between flower strips and control sites. We extracted 350 data entries from 29 out of 172 studies based on available data for richness or abundance of the pollinator taxa groups Apiformes, Lepidoptera and Syrphidae as response variables, for both flower strips and control treatments. All flower strips and control treatments were assigned a habitat quality score including information on spatial dimension, floral resources and management. Moreover, we included information on landscape complexity as measured by percent cover of semi-natural habitats in the studied landscape. In general, our results of meta-analytical models showed an increasing effect size of flower strips on pollinators for higher contrasts in habitat quality between flower strips and control treatments. This relationship was consistent across pollinator taxa and different levels of landscape complexity. Altogether, in terms of pollinator habitat quality, high-quality flower strips were more attractive than low-quality flower strips, and the reported effectiveness of flower strips decreased from low-quality to high-quality control treatments. We recommend that results of future studies evaluating flower strips for pollinators are always linked with the contrast in habitat quality between selected flower strips and control treatments.

opencc-by-4.0Nov 2022View details →

SAXS data - FAD-dependent monooxygenase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Raw SAXS data for FAD-dependent monooxygenase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SmTetX) in h5z format.  Detailed description is available in the manuscript "Tetracycline-modifying enzyme SmTetX from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia". Processed data were deposited in the SASBDB database under the accession codes SASDPV7 and SASDPW7 for sample without and with reducing agent (30 mM DTT), respectively. https://www.sasbdb.org/data/SASDPV7 https://www.sasbdb.org/data/SASDPW7

Depth-dependent effects of Ericoid Mycorrhizal shrubs on soil carbon and nitrogen pools are accentuated under Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Trees

Plant mycorrhizal associations influence the accumulation and persistence of soil organic matter and could therefore shape ecosystem biogeochemical responses to global changes that are altering forest composition. For instance, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) tree dominance is increasing in temperate forests, and ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) shrubs can respond positively to canopy disturbances. Yet how shifts in the co-occurrence of trees and shrubs with different mycorrhizal associations will affect soil organic matter pools remains largely unknown. We examine the effects of ErM shrubs on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and indicators of microbial activity at different depths across gradients of AM versus ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree dominance in three temperate forest sites. We find that ErM shrubs strongly modulate tree mycorrhizal dominance effects. In surface soils, ErM shrubs increase particulate organic matter accumulation and weaken the positive relationship between soil organic matter stocks and indicators of microbial activity. These effects are strongest under AM trees that lack fungal symbionts that can degrade organic matter. In subsurface soil organic matter pools, by contrast, tree mycorrhizal dominance effects are stronger than those of ErM shrubs. Ectomycorrhizal tree dominance has a negative influence on particulate and mineral-associated soil organic matter pools, and these effects are stronger for nitrogen than for carbon stocks. Our findings suggest that increasing co-occurrence of ErM shrubs and AM trees will enhance particulate organic matter accumulation in surface soils by suppressing microbial activity while having little influence on mineral-associated organic matter in subsurface soils. Our study highlights the importance of considering interactions between co-occurring plant mycorrhizal types, as well as their depth-dependent effects, for projecting changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in response to compositional shifts in temperate forests driven by disturbances and global change.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2023View details →

Dataset for Phonological acquisition depends on the timing of speech sound

Dataset for the analysis to the manuscript: Phonological acquisition depends on the timing of speech sounds: Deconvolution EEG modelling across the first five years

The effects of N-addition on litter mixture effects depend on decomposition time: a case from mixed-litter decomposition in the Gurbantunggut Desert

Changes in nitrogen (N) deposition and litter mixtures have been shown to influence ecosystem processes such as litter decomposition. However, the interactive effects of litter mixing and N-deposition on decomposition process in desert regions remain poorly identified. We assessed the simultaneous effects of both N addition and litter mixture on mass loss in a litterbag decomposition experiment using six native plants in single-species samples with diverse quality and 14 species-combinations in the Gurbantunggut Desert under two N addition treatments (control and N addition). The N addition had no significant effect on decomposition rate of single-species litter (except Haloxylon ammodendron), whereas litter mass loss and decomposition rate differed significantly among species, with variations positively correlated with initial phosphorus concentration and negatively correlated with initial lignin concentration. After 18 months, the average mass loss across litter mixtures did not overall differ from those predicted from single-species either in control or N addition treatments, that is, mixing of different species had no non-additive effects on decomposition. The N addition, however, did modify the direction of mixture effects, and interacted with incubation time. Added N transformed synergistic effects of litter mixtures to antagonistic effects on mass loss after 1 month of decomposition, while transforming neutral effects of litter mixture to synergistic effects after 6 months of decomposition. Our results demonstrated that initial chemical properties played an important role in litter decomposition, while no effects of litter mixture on decomposition process in this desert region. The N addition altered the litter mixture effects on mass loss with incubation time, implying that increased N deposition in the future may have profound effects on carbon turnover to a greater extent than previously thought in desert ecosystems.

Threshold-dependent gene regulation and partial assortative mating determine wing dimorphism of an Insect

Wing dimorphism is a fantastic life-historical trait of insects which indicates the developmental trend of populations, going as migrants or staying as residents. The alternative wing morph enhances adaptability of insects to changing environments. However, the underlying mechanism for maintaining wing dimorphism remains vague. The brown planthoppers Nilaparvata lugens, a serious pest of rice, are either short-winged or long-winged. The shift between two wing morphs is determined by two insulin receptors. So, this pest is a better model organism to explore the mechanism of wing dimorphism. Here, the short- and long-winged strains of N. lugens were selected. Rates of a selected wing morph were linearly increased in populations, and the selection response of the short-winged morph was stronger than that of the long-winged. Selection enhanced the migratory or resident propensity. Directional selection for the long-winged morph resulted in longer and lighter forewings, while selection for the short-winged morph generated shorter and thicker wings and higher fecundity. Relative expression levels of wing development genes InR1, InR2, and FOXO were positively correlated with the short-winged rate in the short-winged strain, while they were negatively correlated with the long-winged rate in the long-winged strain at specific stages. The change rate of expression levels was approximately two times as high as that of the wing morph rates in populations, indicating a high threshold-dependent gene expressed regulation of a wing morph. A partial assortative mating behavior occurred between the nearly pure-bred lineages of short- and long-winged strains. The short-winged males preferred to mate with short-winged females while the long-winged males mated with the short- and long-winged females equally. The threshold-dependent mode is flexible to adjust the wing morph according to environmental conditions and the partial assortative mating promotes the genetic exchange between two wing morphs which drive the maintenance of wing dimorphism.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2023View details →

The symmetry-induced numerosity illusion depends on visual attention

For the ST, ST-WD: each file contains a matrix called “a”. Each row of the matrix “a” is a trial.  The columns contain the following information: <ul> <li>1st: Numerosity of test stimulus</li> <li>2nd: Log10 of numerosity of test stimulus divided by the standard numerosity</li> <li>3rd: Participant response (0 = standard stimulus; 1 = test stimulus)</li> <li>4th: 200</li> <li>5th: Standard numerosity      </li> <li>6th: Dots size in pixels</li> <li>7th: 10</li> <li>8th: Condition (0= symmetry condition; 1= random condition)</li> <li>9th: Standard-Test order (1 = standard first; 2 = standard second)</li> <li>10th: Response time</li> <li>11th: -99</li> <li>12th: -99</li> <li>13th: -99</li> <li>14th: 0</li> </ul> For the DT: each file contains a matrix called “a”. Each row of the matrix “a” is a trial.  The columns contain the following information: <ul> <li>1st: Numerosity of test stimulus</li> <li>2nd: Log10 of numerosity of test stimulus divided by the standard numerosity</li> <li>3rd: Participant response (0 = standard stimulus; 1 = test stimulus)</li> <li>4th: 200</li> <li>5th: Standard numerosity      </li> <li>6th: Dots size in pixels</li> <li>7th: 10</li> <li>8th: Condition (0= symmetry condition; 1= random condition)</li> <li>9th: Standard-Test order (1 = standard first; 2 = standard second)</li> <li>10th: Response time to the numerosity task</li> <li>11th: Response to the color-conjunction task (1: target; 0: no-target)</li> <li>12th: code of color-conjuction stimulus presented onscreen</li> <li>13th: Accuracy to the color-conjuction task (1:correct; 0:wrong)</li> <li>14th: 1</li> </ul>

opencc-zeroAug 2023View details →

Dataset:Female state and condition-dependent chemical signalling revealed by male choice of silk trails

We ask whether males of the nuptial gift-giving spider Pisaura mirabilis exert preferences for mates varying in their reproductive potential based on chemical information during mate search. Males were presented with binary trails consisting of silk lines and substrate-borne chemicals deposited while females were walking, from females varying in a) body condition (high vs. low), b) developmental state (subadult vs. adult) and c) mating state (unmated vs. mated). If female chemical signaling co-varies with individual state, we expect males to choose trails of females that are a) in higher body condition, indicating higher fecundity, b) adults, which can successfully reproduce, and c) unmated, to avoid sperm competition. We show that female signaling is condition-dependent, with males being more likely to follow trails of higher body condition females, but not dependent on female mating state. Males also tended to prefer trails of adults over subadults. Choice did not depend on male individual body condition.

opencc-zeroAug 2023View details →

Data from: Differential early-life survival underlies the adaptive significance of temperature-dependent sex determination in a long-lived reptile

Many ectotherms rely on temperature cues experienced during development to determine offspring sex. The first descriptions of temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) were made over 50 years ago, yet an understanding of its adaptive significance remains elusive, especially in long-lived taxa. One novel hypothesis predicts that TSD should be evolutionarily favored when two criteria are met – (a) incubation temperature influences annual juvenile survival and (b) sexes mature at different ages. Under these conditions, a sex-dependent effect of incubation temperature on offspring fitness arises through differences in age at sexual maturity, with the sex that matures later benefiting disproportionately from temperatures that promote juvenile survival. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) serves as an insightful model in which to test this hypothesis, as males begin reproducing nearly a decade after females. Here, through a combination of artificial incubation experiments and mark-recapture approaches, we test the specific predictions of the survival-to-maturity hypothesis for the adaptive value of TSD by disentangling the effects of incubation temperature and sex on annual survival of alligator hatchlings across two geographically distinct sites. Hatchlings incubated at male-promoting temperatures consistently exhibited higher survival compared to those incubated at female-promoting temperatures. This pattern appears independent of hatchling sex, as females produced from hormone manipulation at male-promoting temperatures exhibit similar survival to their male counterparts. Additional experiments show that incubation temperature may affect early-life survival primarily by affecting the efficiency with which maternally transferred energy resources are used during development. Results from this study provide the first explicit empirical support for the adaptive value of TSD in a crocodilian and point to developmental energetics as a potential unifying mechanism underlying persistent survival consequences of incubation temperature.