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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Assessing Multiple Endpoints Of Atrazine Ingestion On Gravid Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia Sipedon) And Their Offspring [Abstract], L. A. Neuman-Lee, K. F. Gaines, K. A. Baumgartner, J. R. Voorhees, J. M. Novak, Stephen J. Mullin
Assessing Multiple Endpoints Of Atrazine Ingestion On Gravid Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia Sipedon) And Their Offspring [Abstract], L. A. Neuman-Lee, K. F. Gaines, K. A. Baumgartner, J. R. Voorhees, J. M. Novak, Stephen J. Mullin
Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
Differential Habitat Use By Common Watersnakes (Nerodia Sipedon), Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Andrew M. Durso, Nicholas M. Kiriazis, Melanie J. Olds, Stephen J. Mullin
Differential Habitat Use By Common Watersnakes (Nerodia Sipedon), Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Andrew M. Durso, Nicholas M. Kiriazis, Melanie J. Olds, Stephen J. Mullin
Faculty Publications
Understanding intraspecific variation in habitat use is important for the management of any species. In many studies of reptiles, habitat use by juveniles is poorly understood when compared to their adult conspecifics because of capture biases and logistical constraints. We compared habitat use between sexes and age classes of Common Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) at a reservoir in central Illinois. Juvenile N. sipedon occurred more frequently in habitat with high canopy cover, whereas adult N. sipedon, especially reproductive females, were found exclusively in habitat with no canopy cover. Adult males used both locations equally. We emphasize the need to investigate ontogenetic …
Thermoregulation Of Male Elaphe Spiloides In An Agriculturally-Fragmented Forest In Illinois, C. Drew Foster, Sarabeth Klueh, Stephen J. Mullin
Thermoregulation Of Male Elaphe Spiloides In An Agriculturally-Fragmented Forest In Illinois, C. Drew Foster, Sarabeth Klueh, Stephen J. Mullin
Faculty Publications
Anthropogenic forest fragmentation increases the amount of edge habitat. Although edges are harsh environments for many native species, ratsnakes often prefer this habitat. We examined thermoregulatory effectiveness of Central Ratsnakes (Elaphe spiloides) using forest edges preferentially to determine if edge preference is driven by increased thermoregulatory efficiencies. Six male subjects were located every 1-2 days using radio-telemetry and temperature sensitive transmitters. Subjects did not thermoregulate more efficiently in edges than in forest. Snakes were thermoconformers in both habitat types suggesting edge preference might be driven by other factors.
Snake (Colubridae: Thamnophis) Predatory Responses To Chemical Cues From Native And Introduced Prey Species, Stephen J. Mullin, Hélène Imbert, Jennifer M. Fish, Edward L. Ervin, Robert N. Fisher
Snake (Colubridae: Thamnophis) Predatory Responses To Chemical Cues From Native And Introduced Prey Species, Stephen J. Mullin, Hélène Imbert, Jennifer M. Fish, Edward L. Ervin, Robert N. Fisher
Faculty Publications
Several aquatic vertebrates have been introduced into freshwater systems in California over the past 100 years. Some populations of the two-striped garter snake (Thamnophis hammondii) have lived in sympatry with these species since their introduction; other populations have never encountered them. To assess the possible adaptation to a novel prey, we tested the predatory responses of T. hammondii from different populations to different chemosensory cues from native and introduced prey species. We presented chemical extracts from potential prey types and 2 control odors to individual snakes on cotton swabs and recorded the number of tongue flicks and attacks …
Caudal Distraction By Rat Snakes (Colubridae, Elaphe): A Novel Behavior Used When Capturing Mammalian Prey, Stephen J. Mullin
Caudal Distraction By Rat Snakes (Colubridae, Elaphe): A Novel Behavior Used When Capturing Mammalian Prey, Stephen J. Mullin
Faculty Publications
Caudal movement in snakes may serve either a predatory (e.g., caudal luring) or defensive (eg., rattling, aposematism) function. I describe a new behavioral pattern of tail movement in snakes. Gray rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides) foraging on small mammals (Mus domesticus) moved their tails in an erratic, whiplike fashion after detecting their prey in the vicinity. The thrashing movement in the horizontal plane was audibly and visually obvious, resulting in displacement of leaf litter around the tail. All subjects displayed the behavior, but not in all foraging episodes. Shorter durations of caudal distraction resulted in greater …
The Foraging Ecology Of The Gray Rat Snake (Elaphe Obsoleta Spiloides). Iii. Searching For Different Prey Types In Structurally Varied Habitats [Abstract], Stephen J. Mullin, Robert J. Cooper, William H. N. Gutzke
The Foraging Ecology Of The Gray Rat Snake (Elaphe Obsoleta Spiloides). Iii. Searching For Different Prey Types In Structurally Varied Habitats [Abstract], Stephen J. Mullin, Robert J. Cooper, William H. N. Gutzke
Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
Adaptations Facilitating Facultative Oophagy In The Gray Rat Snake, Elaphe Obsoleta Spiloides [Abstract], Stephen J. Mullin
Adaptations Facilitating Facultative Oophagy In The Gray Rat Snake, Elaphe Obsoleta Spiloides [Abstract], Stephen J. Mullin
Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
Foraging Ecology Of The Mangrove Salt Marsh Snake, Nerodia Clarkii Compressicauda: Effects Of Vegetational Density [Abstract], Stephen J. Mullin, Henry R. Mushinsky
Foraging Ecology Of The Mangrove Salt Marsh Snake, Nerodia Clarkii Compressicauda: Effects Of Vegetational Density [Abstract], Stephen J. Mullin, Henry R. Mushinsky
Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.