Potential environmental influences on variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism among Arizona populations of the western diamond-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Amarello, Melissa; Nowak, Erika M.; Taylor, Emily N.; Schuett, Gordon W.; Repp, Roger A.; Rosen, Philip C.; Hardy, David L.

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.05.019

Cited by 41 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(69 reference statements)

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“…Mean litter size was 4.3±1.9 neonates. Although the mean litter size in our population is small relative to other regions, both litter size and adult body size vary geographically for this species [32], [34], [39]. Our findings of small and sometimes frequent (e.g., annual) litters are consistent with past research done at this and nearby sites [22], [23], [39], [72].…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 89%

Mating Systems, Reproductive Success, and Sexual Selection in Secretive Species: A Case Study of the Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox

et al. 2014

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Long-term studies of individual animals in nature contribute disproportionately to our understanding of the principles of ecology and evolution. Such field studies can benefit greatly from integrating the methods of molecular genetics with traditional approaches. Even though molecular genetic tools are particularly valuable for species that are difficult to observe directly, they have not been widely adopted. Here, we used molecular genetic techniques in a 10-year radio-telemetric investigation of the western diamond-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) for an analysis of its mating system and to measure sexual selection. Specifically, we used microsatellite markers to genotype 299 individuals, including neonates from litters of focal females to ascertain parentage using full-pedigree likelihood methods. We detected high levels of multiple paternity within litters, yet found little concordance between paternity and observations of courtship and mating behavior. Larger males did not father significantly more offspring, but we found evidence for size-specific male-mating strategies, with larger males guarding females for longer periods in the mating seasons. Moreover, the spatial proximity of males to mothers was significantly associated with reproductive success. Overall, our field observations alone would have been insufficient to quantitatively measure the mating system of this population of C. atrox, and we thus urge more widespread adoption of molecular tools by field researchers studying the mating systems and sexual selection of snakes and other secretive taxa.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 89%

Mating Systems, Reproductive Success, and Sexual Selection in Secretive Species: A Case Study of the Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox

et al. 2014

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“…Arizona exhibits broad physiographic structure and multiple biotic communities within a relatively narrow latitudinal range (Brown, 1994); C. atrox occupies the southern half of the state and inhabits most these biotic regions (Campbell & Lamar, 2004). Amarello et al (2010) demonstrated, moreover, that adults of C. atrox were significantly larger (SVL) in regions that were wetter and cooler, two variables that are presumably associated with increased opportunities to acquire prey (e.g. rodents) and hence acquire sufficient reserves for reproduction (Rosen & Goldberg, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequency of reproduction in female western diamond‐backed rattlesnakes from the Sonoran Desert of Arizona is variable in individuals: potential role of rainfall and prey densities

2011

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In many species of snakes, particularly viperids from temperate regions, production of offspring by individuals occurs on a less-than-annual schedule. Accordingly, acquiring sufficient energy and nutrient reserves for reproduction in females often requires more than a single active season. This is termed capital mode. Yet, in some instances, annual reproduction occurs under conditions where foraging success is high and environmental factors are compliant. This is termed income mode. Here, we addressed the hypothesis of annual versus less-than-annual reproduction from a long-term radio-telemetric study involving female western diamond-backed rattlesnakes Crotalus atrox from a population of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. From 2001 to 2008, 16 of 20 radio-telemetered females produced 36 litters, which 32 were informative in addressing the hypothesis of reproductive frequency. In 14 females, litters were produced on a biennial or atleast-biennial (Zbiennial) cycle. However, seven females demonstrated annual reproduction, of which several had previously reproduced on a biennial or greater cycle. Because our study was non-experimental, we were unable to unambiguously identify specific proximate factors that contributed to the shift in annual reproduction. Nonetheless, we established that greater annual rainfall was significantly correlated with shifts to annual reproduction. Based on other studies, we hypothesize that increased rainfall was causally linked with increases in rodent densities and the foraging success of female C. atrox, which in turn is linked to reproduction. We describe, moreover, several characteristics of female C. atrox that appear to facilitate the potential for annual reproduction. In long-lived species, such as C. atrox, our research underscores the necessity to follow individuals for extended periods to gain insights on reproductive cycles not captured by point sampling methods, such as short-term field studies or reliance on museum specimens.

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“…Body size plays a central role in a variety of life history traits as well as in the physiology, morphology and ecology of animals (Peters, 1983;Shine, 1994a;Bonnet et al, 2000;Amarello et al, 2010). Variables such as energy needs (Nagy, 1987), dietary habits (McNabb, 1988), water requirements (Nagy and Peterson, 1988), animal distribution (Blackburn and Gaston, 1994), geographical range size (Pyron, 1999;Wollenberg et al, 2011), locomotory speed (Taylor et al, 1982) and body condition (Schulte-Hostedde et al, 2005), among many other characteristics, have all been related to body size of animals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body size and seasonal body condition in two small coexisting desert snake species, the Saharan sand viper (Cerastes vipera) and the crowned leafnose (Lytorhynchus diadema)

Sivan

Kam

Hadad

et al. 2015

Journal of Arid Environments

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Potential environmental influences on variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism among Arizona populations of the western diamond-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Cited by 41 publications

References 40 publications

Mating Systems, Reproductive Success, and Sexual Selection in Secretive Species: A Case Study of the Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox

Mating Systems, Reproductive Success, and Sexual Selection in Secretive Species: A Case Study of the Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox

Frequency of reproduction in female western diamond‐backed rattlesnakes from the Sonoran Desert of Arizona is variable in individuals: potential role of rainfall and prey densities

Body size and seasonal body condition in two small coexisting desert snake species, the Saharan sand viper (Cerastes vipera) and the crowned leafnose (Lytorhynchus diadema)

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