Question

Which of the following environmental factors plays an important role in deciding the sex of a developing organism in some animals?

• A. Humidity
• B. Light
• C. Wind
• D. Temperature

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Temperature

• In some animals, temperature is a crucial environmental factor that can influence the sex of a developing organism during a specific period of development.

• Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) is a prime example of phenotypic plasticity in that incubation temperature of the egg causes bipotential gonads to develop either into a testis or an ovary.

• TSD is widely observed in reptiles including all crocodilians, some lizards, and many turtles (Bull, 1980).