Garter snakes do not respond to TTX via chemoreception

Avila, Leleña A.; Wiggins, Ryan; Brodie, Edmund D.

doi:10.1007/s00049-011-0094-2

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…The role of TTX in olfaction is likely highly species‐specific, as recent work on snakes ( Thamnophis sirtalis ) also failed to find evidence for a role of TTX in chemoreception (Avila et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tetrodotoxin is an important olfactory cue in some organisms (Matsumura 1995;Zimmer et al 2006), but was not attractive to caddisflies in this study. The role of TTX in olfaction is likely highly species-specific, as recent work on snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) also failed to find evidence for a role of TTX in chemoreception (Avila et al 2011). Non-genetic maternal effects, such as micro-oviposition avoidance, can have dramatic effects on offspring fitness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fine‐scale selection by ovipositing females increases egg survival

Gall

Brodie

2012

Ecology and Evolution

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One of the most important defenses for the eggs of ovipositing female organisms is to avoid being laid in the same habitat as their predators. However, for most organisms, completely avoiding an offspring's predators is not possible. One mechanism that has been largely overlooked is for females to partition an oviposition site into microhabitats that differ in quality for offspring survival. We conducted a series of experiments to examine whether female newts avoid microhabitats utilized by their offspring's primary predator, caddisfly larvae. Female newts avoided laying eggs near predatory caddisflies and shifted egg laying upward in the water column when provided with a vertical dimension. Caddisflies were attracted to chemical stimuli from female newts and their eggs, yet primarily used benthic areas in experimental chambers. Finally, results from a field experiment indicate that the behavioral strategy employed by female newts increases offspring survival. This subset of non-genetic maternal effects, micro-oviposition avoidance, is likely an important yet underexplored mechanism by which females increase offspring survival.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine‐scale selection by ovipositing females increases egg survival

Gall

Brodie

2012

Ecology and Evolution

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The chemistry and biology of guanidine natural products

2016

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The present review discusses the isolation, structure determination, synthesis, biosynthesis and biological activities of secondary metabolites bearing a guanidine group. Topics include non-ribosomal peptides, alkaloids, guanidine-bearing terpenes, polyketides and shikimic acid derivatives from natural sources. A critical analysis of some yet underdeveloped aspects of guanidine metabolites is also presented.

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Stable isotope analysis suggests that tetrodotoxin-resistant Common Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) rarely feed on newts in the wild

et al. 2021

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Toxin-resistant predators may suffer costs from eating chemically-defended prey and do not feed exclusively on toxic prey. Common Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) (Linnaeus, 1758) have been considered the drivers of an evolutionary arms race with highly toxic newts (Taricha spp.), which they consume with few or no deleterious effects. However, how frequently newts are consumed in nature is less clear. To address this question, we investigated the diets of T. sirtalis at a site in central Oregon where snakes have high levels of resistance and newts have high levels of tetrodotoxin in the skin. Because snake diets are difficult to quantify using traditional means, we used stable isotopes to estimate the proportion of T. sirtalis diets made up of newts. Our estimate for the proportion of T. sirtalis diet made up of T. granulosa at this site is 3.2%. Ambystoma salamanders were predicted to be the most important prey, followed by slugs, chorus frogs, and mice, with a very minor role for earthworms. Our results demonstrate that even though T. sirtalis are physiologically capable of consuming toxic prey, they do not often do so. Generalist predators can be exposed to very strong selection from, and exert reciprocal selection on even rarely eaten, chemically-defended prey.

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Garter snakes do not respond to TTX via chemoreception

Cited by 3 publications

References 59 publications

Fine‐scale selection by ovipositing females increases egg survival

Fine‐scale selection by ovipositing females increases egg survival

The chemistry and biology of guanidine natural products

Stable isotope analysis suggests that tetrodotoxin-resistant Common Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) rarely feed on newts in the wild

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