Ecology and Behavior of the Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Crotalus Oreganus Concolor) in Wyoming<sup>1</sup>

Parker, Joshua

doi:10.1670/0022-1511(2007)41[41:eabotm]2.0.co;2

Cited by 27 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Based on analyses of 25 digestive tracts and 23 faecal samples, for example, Wood (1954) estimated that copperheads ( Agkistrodon contortrix ) accounted for almost six per cent of the diet of the Virginia opossum over a two‐year study in the post‐oak woodlands of eastern Texas, whereas several studies have documented the impressive resistance of this species to pitviper envenomation (Kilmon, 1976; Werner & Vick, 1977; Pérez et al , 1978 a ; Pérez, Pichyangkul & Garcia, 1979). Evidence that badgers eat venomous snakes is less extensive, but Jackley (1938) reported several compelling anecdotes of badger predation on rattlesnakes that are consistent with recent observations by herpetological researchers (Hirth et al , 1969; Klauber, 1972; Parker & Anderson, 2007; Repp & Schuett, 2008). Unfortunately, the North American badger has never been tested for venom resistance.…”

Section: Natural Historysupporting

confidence: 69%

Snake‐venom resistance as a mammalian trophic adaptation: lessons from didelphid marsupials

Voss

Jansa

2012

Biological Reviews

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Mammals that prey on venomous snakes include several opossums (Didelphidae), at least two hedgehogs (Erinaceidae), several mongooses (Herpestidae), several mustelids, and some skunks (Mephitidae). As a group, these taxa do not share any distinctive morphological traits. Instead, mammalian adaptations for ophiophagy seem to consist only in the ability to resist the toxic effects of snake venom. Molecular mechanisms of venom resistance (as indicated by biochemical research on opossums, mongooses, and hedgehogs) include toxin-neutralizing serum factors and adaptive changes in venom-targeted molecules. Of these, toxin-neutralizing serum factors have received the most research attention to date. All of the toxin-neutralizing serum proteins discovered so far in both opossums and mongooses are human α1B-glycoprotein homologs that inhibit either snake-venom metalloproteinases or phospholipase A(2) myotoxins. By contrast, adaptive changes in venom-targeted molecules have received far less attention. The best-documented examples include amino-acid substitutions in mongoose nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that inhibit binding by α-neurotoxins, and amino-acid substitutions in opossum von Willebrand factor (vWF) that are hypothesized to weaken the bond between vWF and coagulopathic C-type lectins. Although multiple mechanisms of venom resistance are known from some species, the proteomic complexity of most snake venoms suggests that the evolved biochemical defences of ophiophagous mammals are likely to be far more numerous than currently recognized. Whereas most previous research in this field has been motivated by the potential for medical applications, venom resistance in ophiophagous mammals is a complex adaptation that merits attention from comparative biologists. Unfortunately, evolutionary inference is currently limited by ignorance about many relevant facts that can only be provided by future research.

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Section: Natural Historysupporting

confidence: 69%

Snake‐venom resistance as a mammalian trophic adaptation: lessons from didelphid marsupials

Voss

Jansa

2012

Biological Reviews

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“…Females generally do not reach sexual maturity for at least 5 years and it may be closer to 10 years when females are first able to breed (Parker 2003). Additionally, the frequency of reproduction by females is thought to be biennial or triennial (Ashton and Patton 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A population genetic analysis of the midget faded rattlesnake in Wyoming

Oyler‐McCance

Parker

2010

Conserv Genet

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Little is known about the population biology of midget faded rattlesnakes, a sensitive subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake, despite conservation efforts to protect them. We conducted a molecular genetic study of midget faded rattlesnakes in southwestern Wyoming to investigate population genetic structure in this area, particularly with reference to Flaming Gorge Reservoir and its associated human activities, and to document levels of genetic diversity. We genotyped 229 snakes from 11 sampling sites using 9 microsatellite loci. We found significant levels of genetic structure among sites that were better explained by geographic region and isolation by distance than by position relative to waterways. Sites on either side of the reservoir at its widest point were not significantly different. Six of the sites showed signatures of a population bottleneck using an alpha value of 0.05. Three of these bottlenecked sites (the three most northern) were the most genetically distinct and occur in areas of greatest impact from human activity.

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“…During the course of a previous study in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Wyoming (Parker and Anderson 2007), 426 midget faded rattlesnakes were captured and blood samples were collected and placed in EDTA-coated Eppendorf tubes (Brinkmann) and stored at -20°C. DNA was extracted from 23 blood samples using either a phenol-chloroform method (Kahn et al 1999) or the GenomicPrep Blood DNA Isolation Kit (Amersham Biosciences) using the manufacturer's instructions for DNA extraction from nucleated whole blood with the modifications following Oyler-McCance et al (2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

Characterization of ten microsatellite loci in midget faded rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus concolor)

Oyler‐McCance

Parker

2010

Conservation Genet Resour

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Primers for 10 microsatellite loci were developed for midget faded rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus concolor), a small bodied subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake, which is found in the Colorado Plateau of eastern Utah, western Colorado and southwestern Wyoming. In a screen of 23 individuals from the most northern portion of the subspecies range in southwestern Wyoming, the 10 loci were found to have levels of variability ranging from 4 to 11 alleles. No loci were found to be linked, although one locus revealed significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These microsatellite loci will be applicable for population genetic analyses, which will ultimately aid in management efforts for this rare subspecies of rattlesnake.

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Ecology and Behavior of the Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Crotalus Oreganus Concolor) in Wyoming¹

Cited by 27 publications

References 34 publications

Snake‐venom resistance as a mammalian trophic adaptation: lessons from didelphid marsupials

Snake‐venom resistance as a mammalian trophic adaptation: lessons from didelphid marsupials

A population genetic analysis of the midget faded rattlesnake in Wyoming

Characterization of ten microsatellite loci in midget faded rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus concolor)

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Ecology and Behavior of the Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Crotalus Oreganus Concolor) in Wyoming1

Cited by 27 publications

References 34 publications

Snake‐venom resistance as a mammalian trophic adaptation: lessons from didelphid marsupials

Snake‐venom resistance as a mammalian trophic adaptation: lessons from didelphid marsupials

A population genetic analysis of the midget faded rattlesnake in Wyoming

Characterization of ten microsatellite loci in midget faded rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus concolor)

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Ecology and Behavior of the Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Crotalus Oreganus Concolor) in Wyoming¹