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The Responses Of Ecologically Dissimilar Populations Of The Water Snake, Natrix Sipedon Sipedon To Surface Extracts Of Prey Species, With Observations On Feeding And Defense Behaviors, Doris Gove

Masters Theses

Observations of defensive and feeding behavior of Natrix sipedon were made in the field and in the lab. Crypticity, mimicry of poisonous snakes, striking, production of cloacal secretion and tail autonomy were defensive behaviors discussed. Feeding behaviors discussed were hunting, catching prey and tongue-flicking.

Experiments were performed on the responses of snakes from ecologically dissimilar populations of N. sipedon to surface extracts of local prey species. The populations were: (1) a laboratory-reared litter of ten one-year-old snakes; (2) six wild-caught snakes from Sterchi's fish hatchery in north Knoxville, Tennessee; and (3) six wild-caught and eight newborn snakes (a litter) from …

Elevational Studies Of Silphidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) In Southeast Tennessee, Barry Charles Lumpkin

Masters Theses

During the period of June 17-December 2, 1970 baited pit-fall traps were used to collect 3467 specimens of Silphidae and related carrion frequenting Coleoptera at varying altitudes (800-6500 ft.) in southeast Tennessee. Ten species of Silphidae and representatives of five other families of beetles (Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Histeridae, Scarabaeidae, and Trogidae) were consistently collected from the traps during the study period. The genus Nicrophorous appeared to occupy the higher elevations in the study area while the genus Silphidae occupied the lower elevations. N. marginatus and N. hydrophiloides appeared to have their elevational centers at higher altitudes than those found in the …