Temporal dynamics of relative-mass variation of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) at a communal hibernaculum in Manitoba
| Autor: | Patrick T. Gregory |
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| Rok vydání: | 2011 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Écoscience. 18:1-8 |
| ISSN: | 2376-7626 1195-6860 |
| DOI: | 10.2980/18-1-3379 |
| Popis: | An animal's relative body mass (i.e., mass adjusted for length or some other size dimension) is a potential indicator of its body condition, which in turn can influence demographic traits. In this study, I revisited data collected in 1969–1970 on garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, at a communal hibernaculum in Manitoba, to test hypotheses generated by more recent literature. First, I compared fall-through-spring variation in relative mass to a similar study of another species of Thamnophis in a milder, Mediterranean climate and found a similar temporal pattern, suggesting common features across a wide latitudinal range. Female snakes had a higher relative mass than males and experienced lower decline in relative mass overwinter and through the spring. This suggests different hibernation strategies of the 2 sexes, possibly involving different temperatures or differences in metabolism, and also reflects the preoccupation of males upon spring emergence with searching for mates, at energ... |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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