Do Reproductive Costs Affect Adult Survival in Mexican Dusky Rattlesnakes? A Test Using Mark-Recapture Data


Por: Luis Jaramillo-Alba, Jose, Adan Perez-Mendoza, Hibraim, Diaz de la Vega-Perez, Anibal Helios, Akcali, Christopher K.

Publicada: 1 mar 2020
Resumen:
Survival rate is one of the most poorly characterized components of the life history of many species of reptiles, especially snakes. Reproductive activity can increase the risk of mortality. In this study, we examined whether sex-specific reproductive costs affect the survival probability of a viviparous rattlesnake, Crotalus triseriatus, in central Mexico from 2015 to 2018. We used a multimodel inference framework to test two hypotheses: (1) female survival probability should decrease during the late-gestation and birthing period, when females are less mobile and try to achieve stable body temperatures by behavioral thermoregulation ; and (2) male survival probability should decrease during the mating season, when males are more actively searching for potential mates. Our data did not support these hypotheses. Mean (+1 SE) monthly survival probability of both males and females was 0.96 +/- 0.01, and recapture probability was 0.11 +/- 0.01. Annual survival rate was 0.72 +/- 0.12. Monthly estimated mean adult population size varied from 16 to 71 adult rattlesnakes. Survival probability was positively correlated with body size. The reproductive costs could have been obscured by the fact that females do not reproduce every year and, therefore, the demands of the mating season are not as tightly linked to survivorship as we hypothesized.

Filiaciones:
Luis Jaramillo-Alba, Jose:
 UNAM, Fac Estudios Super Iztacala, Lab Ecol Evolut Anfibios & Reptiles, Ave Las Barrios Numero 1, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado De Mexic, Mexico

 Posgrad Ciencias Biol, Unidad Posgrad, Edificio A,1 Piso,Ciudad Univ, Ciudad De Mexico 04510, Mexico

Adan Perez-Mendoza, Hibraim:
 UNAM, Fac Estudios Super Iztacala, Lab Ecol Evolut Anfibios & Reptiles, Ave Las Barrios Numero 1, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado De Mexic, Mexico

Diaz de la Vega-Perez, Anibal Helios:
 Univ Autonoma Tlaxcala, Ctr Tlaxcala Biol Conducta, Consejo Nacl Ciencia & Tecnol, Km 1-5 Carretera Tlaxcala, Puebla 90070, Tlaxcala, Mexico

Akcali, Christopher K.:
 Univ N Carolina, Dept Biol, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA

 North Carolina Museum Nat Sci, Raleigh, NC 27601 USA

 Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States

 North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC 27601, United States

Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva de Anfibios y Reptiles, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Unam, Avenida de Los Barrios número 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, C.P. 54090, Mexico
Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio A, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, C.P. 04510, Mexico
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, km 1.5 Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla, Tlaxcala, C.P. 90070, Mexico
ISSN: 00180831
Editorial
HERPETOLOGISTS LEAGUE, EMPORIA STATE UNIV, DIVISION BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 1200 COMMERCIAL ST, EMPORIA, KS 66801-5087 USA, Estados Unidos America
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 76 Número: 1
Páginas: 43-52
WOS Id: 000518803200006