Control and ecological significance of embryonic development in turtles and crocodiles SEAN ALEXANDER WILLIAMSON 10.4225/03/5a57f2088a50c https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/thesis/Control_and_ecological_significance_of_embryonic_development_in_turtles_and_crocodiles/5777382 Turtle embryos pause development within the mother’s oviduct, allowing the mother to delay nesting. I investigated how this process is controlled. I found that embryos take 12 hours to start developing again once laid. I also showed that you can keep embryos paused by maintaining them in low-oxygen environments after laying, allowing safe transportation of eggs for research and conservation purposes. I showed that this physiological phenomenon may also be important for the nesting strategy and reproductive success of olive ridley and leatherback sea turtles. Finally, I found that, unlike turtles, crocodilian embryos do not pause development in low-oxygen. 2018-01-11 23:23:50 Turtles Crocodiles Embryonic Development Embryonic Arrest Ecological Physiology Developmental Biology Ecology