Ostriches Challenged by Temperature Fluctuations
Published:08 Feb.2021 Source:Lund University
The results show that the females lay up to 40 percent fewer eggs if the temperature has fluctuated in the days before laying eggs. Both male and female production of gametes is also negatively affected.
"Many believe that ostriches can reproduce anywhere, but they are actually very sensitive to changes in temperature. Climate change means that temperatures will fluctuate even more, and that could be a challenge for the ostrich," says Mads Schou, researcher at Lund University who wrote the article together with colleague Charlie Cornwallis.