Journal of Herpetology最新文献

{"title":"Ecological Correlates of Small Territories and Intra-Seasonal Variation in the Social Context of Displays in Male Water Dragons, Intellagama lesueurii","authors":"T. A. Baird, T. D. Baird, Richard Shine","doi":"10.1670/22-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-01","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Size and location of territories have important fitness consequences for breeding males in many species, including lizards. Australian Water Dragons (Intellagama lesueurii) are an interesting study system in which to examine socio-ecological aspects of territory size and male behavior because, despite their large body size, these lizards form dense aggregations within urban riparian habitats. In one such population, we found that males defended territories smaller than have been reported for most other large lizards. Surprisingly, smaller males defended larger territories, but larger territories did not increase access to females. Instead, territory size was negatively correlated with conspecific density, including females, which in turn was highest near a creek that provided abundant prey and refuges. That is, territories were smaller in sites offering more resources for reproduction, feeding, and predator evasion. The relative proportion of displays males gave during contests with rivals did not vary within the reproductive season. However, male travel and the context of stereotypical head displays showed a surprising pattern of seasonal variation. As the season progressed, males increased the proportion of displays to females, but decreased the proportion of undirected territorial advertisement displays. Because Water Dragons are long-lived and philopatric, increased display during interactions with postbreeding females may enhance mating opportunities in future reproductive seasons.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"1 1","pages":"274 - 280"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139324110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heavy, Bulky, or Both: What Does “Large Prey” Mean to Snakes?","authors":"Harry W. Greene, Kevin D. Wiseman","doi":"10.1670/22-068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-068","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. We lay out mass-bulk theory (MBT)—relationships for gape-limited predators among relative prey mass (RPM), relative prey bulk (RPB), prey shape, prey taxon, and feeding frequency. Elongate reptiles with narrow mouths eat tiny items; chunks of prey; or, as with many snakes, “large” animals ingested intact. RPM and RPB define item size, with implications for costs and benefits of feeding. Prey are heavy, bulky, both, or neither, only relative to consumers. Type I items are not heavy or bulky; they require minimal handling and gape, but many must be eaten. High RPM, high RPB, or both characterize types II, elongate (e.g., eels); III, fusiform to ovoid (e.g., mice); and IV, nonuniform in cross-sectional dimensions (e.g., some fishes), density (e.g., birds), and/or deformability (e.g., crustaceans). High handling costs and payoffs characterize types II and III; III and IV require wider gape, but IV comes with lower RPM, costs, and payoffs. RPM and RPB have implications for biology and conservation, such that heavy, bulky, or heavy and bulky—but not large—usefully describe prey size. We explore MBT with 1) natural history vignettes and graphical integration of RPM, RPB, prey shapes, and feeding frequency; 2) nonvenomous colubrids that vary in gape and diet; (3) front-fanged colubroids that consume lizards, centipedes, or earthworms; and (4) bird-eating snakes. Further testing of MBT is hampered by logistical and cultural challenges. Our explorations are bookended by reflections of a herpetologist enjoying his eighth decade, emphasizing how an early-career publication stemmed from youthful experiences and led to this review. Resumen. HWG reflexiona sobre como una publicación en los inicios de una carrera académica se originó de experiencias juveniles y derivó en la vida de un herpetólogo disfrutando su octava década. Relacionado con ello, definimos la teoría masa-volumen (TMV)—la relación para predadores limitados por el tamaño de su boca entre la masa relativa de su presa (MRP), el volúmen relativo de la presa (VRP), la forma de la presa, el taxon de la presa, y la frecuencia de alimentación. Los reptiles de cuerpos alargados y bocas estrechas obtienen su alimento de porciones o presas pequeñas, de partes pequeñas de presas grandes, o de presas “grandes” ingeridas completas, como lo hacen muchas serpientes. MRP y VRP definen el tamaño de la porción, y tienen implicaciones en los costos y beneficios de la alimentación. Las presas pueden ser pesadas, voluminosas, ambas o ninguna, en relación con su depredador. Las presas de tipo I, no son pesadas ni voluminosas; son fáciles de manipular y no requieren bocas grandes, pero deben consumirse muchas. MRP alta, VRP alta, o ambas, definien a las presas tipo II, alargadas, como las anguilas; tipo III, esferoides a ovoides, como los ratones; y tipo IV, no uniformes en sección transversal, como algunos peces, o no uniformes en densidad, como las aves. Costos de manipulación y beneficios nutricionales alt","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"128 1","pages":"340 - 366"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139335556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sexually Dimorphic Biofluorescence of the Postcloacal Gland in the Terrestrial Salamander, Plethodon cinereus","authors":"C. D. Anthony, Cari-Ann M. Hickerson, Teah M. Evers, Kelsey L. Garner, Ryan D. Mayer","doi":"10.1670/23-011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/23-011","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Recent research has documented widespread biofluorescence across amphibians. Among caudates in particular, representative species from 8 of the 10 families fluoresce under blue light excitation. Although fluorescence has been reported on the ventral surface of the tail in Eastern Red-backed Salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, nothing is known about the source or function of the fluorescence. This fully terrestrial salamander species has a broad geographic range, has complex mating behavior involving chemosensory and visual behaviors, defends territories from conspecific and heterospecific intruders, and is a model organism for studying many aspects of sociobiology. Our goal was to learn more about the source of fluorescence in P. cinereus and to explore demographic patterns of fluorescence. Additionally, we wanted to establish whether there is seasonal and geographic variation in fluorescence in this widespread salamander species. Through our examination of histological literature and close examination of photos of the ventral surface of tails under both white and UV light, we concluded that S1 glands, which comprise the postcloacal gland (PCG) in P. cinereus, are the source of fluorescence on the ventral portion of the tail. We found this trait to be highly sexually dimorphic, with males having significantly more fluorescent S1 glands both across seasons and localities compared to females. Additionally, we found that fluorescence only occurs in adult salamanders. Further, because the ventral surface of the tail is exposed during courtship and during territorial disputes, we hypothesize that male fluorescence of the PCG may function in the context of both mate choice and territoriality.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"298 1","pages":"262 - 269"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139335478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Müllerian Duct Development and Regression in Reeves' Turtles, Mauremys reevesii, Under Female- and Male-Producing Temperatures","authors":"Hiroshi Akashi, Hibiki Yamamoto, Shinichi Miyagawa","doi":"10.1670/22-049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-049","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Reeves' Turtles (also known as Chinese Three-Keeled Pond Turtles, Mauremys reevesii) exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Recent studies reported genome sequencing and described normal embryonic and gonadal developmental patterns in M. reevesii, making them a promising model for studying TSD. Nevertheless, development of other reproductive organs, such as the Müllerian duct, has not been described in this species. The Müllerian duct is a tubular structure that primarily forms in mesonephros during embryogenesis in both sexes. While the Müllerian duct further develops into the reproductive tract in females, it typically regresses in males. In this study, we investigated the development and regression of the Müllerian duct in M. reevesii during the latter half of embryogenesis under female- (FPT; 318C) and male-producing temperatures (MPT; 268C). Histological analysis revealed that the Müllerian duct showed the first sign of regression at the end of the temperature-sensitive period under MPT and significantly regressed at the prehatching stage (stage 24). Development and regression of the Müllerian duct in M. reevesii followed general trajectories reported in mouse and chicken studies. Timing of regression was consistent with reports in another TSD turtle, Pond Sliders (Trachemys scripta). Our study provides a basis for comparative studies of reproductive organs in TSD species and for elucidating mechanisms leading to sexual differentiation.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"2014 1","pages":"270 - 273"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139335558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reaching New Heights: Arboreal Camera Trapping Provides New Insights on the Ecology of Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versicolor)","authors":"Erik R. Olson, M. M. Laughlin, Jonathan Martin","doi":"10.1670/22-060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-060","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The ecology of many arboreal ectotherms is poorly understood because of access constraints to the forest canopy. For example, despite their common name, Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) are understudied in arboreal habitats. Advancements in camera trap technology and tree-climbing techniques have created new opportunities to study arboreal species. Using arboreal camera trapping and time-lapse photography, we implemented the first study of H. versicolor behavior in the canopy. We examined seasonal and diel patterns of activity, microhabitat use, and effects of relative humidity and temperature on H. versicolor activity in eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) canopies. We installed camera traps at three research sites in northern Wisconsin, USA, spanning a 57-km north–south transect, and maintained them for multiple years. We detected H. versicolor events, of all sex–age classes, at two of our research sites. Use of time-lapse photography significantly improved our ability to detect H. versicolor in the canopy. Hyla versicolor individuals were active in the canopy every year of the study (2015–18), but predominantly during the summer, and peak diel activity occurred predominantly during the night (between 2100 and 2300 h). Hyla versicolor activity significantly increased as relative humidity and temperature increased. Hyla versicolor individuals were significantly more active in the upper canopy compared with other canopy locations and selected for the top side of branches. Our results highlight that H. versicolor frequent arboreal habitats of P. strobus canopies. Although further research is needed, our work lays a foundation of H. versicolor ecology within the canopy. This research also demonstrates the feasibility of using arboreal camera traps with time-lapse settings to study ectotherms in forest canopies.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"29 1","pages":"281 - 289"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139335360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thirteen Years of Turtle Capture–Mark–Recapture in a Small Urban Pond Complex in Louisiana, USA","authors":"B. Glorioso, J. H. Waddle, Doug P. Armstrong","doi":"10.1670/22-083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-083","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Turtles are one of the most imperiled vertebrate groups in the world. With habitat destruction unabated in many places, urban and suburban greenspaces may serve as refugia for turtles, at least those species able to tolerate heavily altered landscapes. In south-central Louisiana, we have conducted a turtle capture–mark–recapture effort in two ponds in an urban greenspace for 13 yr to understand species composition, survival, and individual growth rates. We had 574 total captures of 251 individuals of five species from 2009–2021, with Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-Eared Sliders) and Sternotherus odoratus (Eastern Musk Turtles) being the most common. Apparent annual survival for T. scripta (0.79) was similar to estimates reported in other studies in altered habitats, whereas apparent annual survival for S. odoratus (0.89) was slightly or much higher than other published studies. Growth rates of T. scripta were comparable to other studies and showed both sexes have similar rates of growth until maturity, which is earlier and at a smaller size in males. The two ponds showed marked differences in captures by size, with significantly more juvenile T. scripta captured in the pond with more vegetation, depth, and a softer bottom. Most T. scripta (78.5%) that were recaptured came from the same pond from which they were originally captured. The basic demographic data gained in this study can serve as a starting point for broader questions on urbanization effects and as a comparison to more natural populations.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"138 1","pages":"290 - 296"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139335381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diverging Epigenetic Responses to Wildfire History in Two Sympatric Lizards","authors":"David R. Tevs, Emma Simpson, M. E. Lauer, Daniella Ray, L. McBrayer, Kyle G. Ashton, Earl D. McCoy, H. Mushinsky, Aaron W. Schrey","doi":"10.1670/22-050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-050","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. In altered postdisturbance habitats, sympatric organisms that have different life history strategies may manifest different epigenetic marks in response to changing landscapes. Herein, we explore how DNA methylation patterns change in response to wildfire in two sympatric lizard species with different life histories: Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi) and Six-Lined Racerunner (Aspidocelis sexlineata). Both lizards prefer habitats that have experienced recent wildfire, yet they differ in distribution, body size, life span, reproductive output, vagility, home range size, diet, behavior, and morphology and have different patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation. We used epiRADseq to screen DNA methylation levels in Florida Scrub Lizards (n = 35) and Six-Lined Racerunners (n = 30) from rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides) scrub sites with different time since fire at Archbold Biological Station and Reserve, Florida, USA. We detected seven genomic locations in Florida Scrub Lizards with increased methylation in the site with most recent time since fire compared with individuals from the site with longest time since fire. We failed to detect differential methylation among locations in the Six-Lined Racerunner genome. We also found DNA methylation was positively correlated with time since fire for Florida Scrub Lizards and negatively correlated with time since fire for Six-Lined Racerunners. Our results indicate DNA methylation may play an important role in mediating the response of disturbance-dependent organisms to changing conditions, but the response of methylation to wildfire likely differs among species.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"4 1","pages":"254 - 261"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139335484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biology of Yucatán Box Turtles (Terrapene yucatana) in Northern Yucatán","authors":"Michael T. Jones, Lisabeth L. Willey, T. Akre, E. Gonzalez-Akre, Eddie Gabriel Nahuat-Jiménez, Luis Díaz Gamboa, R. Macip-Ríos","doi":"10.1670/20-107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/20-107","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Yucatán Box Turtles (Terrapene yucatana) are the only fully tropical lineage of box turtles (Terrapene spp.). We studied the ecology, movements, behavior, and habitat associations of T. yucatana in northern Yucatán, México, over 218 field days from 2014–2019. We estimated the size of two subpopulations to comprise 36.6 and 3.0 turtles, with corresponding densities of 2.29 and 0.39 turtles/ha, respectively. We obtained 2,808 radio locations from radiotelemetry of 20 adults. We estimated an annual survivorship rate over a 5-yr period exceeding 0.989. For both sexes combined, the average annual 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP) home range size was 0.684 ha, and the average distance between consecutive annual home range centroids was 22.5 m. In 2 of 5 yr, males exhibited significantly larger 95% MCP home ranges than females. We observed feeding, courtship, and fighting in the wild between June and December. Females moved more than males in July, when gravid turtles were also observed. We found that T. yucatana was positively associated with Mimosa sp. and Bromelia spp. The use of aquatic habitats was infrequent (0.17%). Our findings support the conclusion that T. yucatana, an allopatric and fully tropical lineage, is an interior forest and thornscrub species that occurs at low densities. In such undisturbed contexts, T. yucatana may exhibit high survivorship rates, small home range size, and home range fidelity that underscore the importance of large-scale forest conservation efforts in concert with the targeted protection of documented Yucatán Box Turtle populations. Resumen. La tortuga de caja de Yucatán (Terrapene yucatana) es el único linaje completamente tropical de tortugas de caja (Terrapene spp.). Realizamos un estudio de la ecología, movimientos, comportamiento y asociaciones de hábitat de T. yucatana en el norte de Yucatán, México, durante 218 días de campo entre 2014 y 2019. Estimamos el tamaño de dos poblaciones comprendidas en 36,6 y 3,0 tortugas, respectivamente, con densidades correspondientes a 2,29 y 0,39 tortugas / ha. Obtuvimos 2,808 radiolocalizaciones de 20 tortugas adultas. Estimamos una tasa de supervivencia anual superior a 0,989 basado en el marcado y recaptura de 37 individuos. Para ambos sexos, el tamaño medio anual del área de distribución (95% del MCP) fue de 0,684 ha, y la distancia entre los centroides del área de distribución anual consecutivos fue de 22,5 m. Los machos exhibieron rangos de distribución significativamente mayores que las hembras en 2 de los 5 años. Observamos alimentación, cortejo y peleas en su estado natural entre junio y diciembre. Las hembras se movieron más que los machos en julio, cuando también se observaron tortugas grávidas. Encontramos que T. yucatana se asoció positivamente con Mimosa sp. y Bromelia spp. El uso de hábitats acuáticos fue infrecuente (0,17%). Terrapene yucatana, un linaje alopátrico y completamente tropical de las tortugas de caja de América del Norte, es una especie ","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"34 1","pages":"325 - 333"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139345931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A New Species of Pseudopaludicola Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 (Anura, Leptodactylidae) from Tocantins State, Brazil","authors":"Leandro Alves Silva, Felipe Silva de Andrade, Ennio Painkow Neto, S. P. Dantas, Isabelle Aquemi Haga, A. A. Garda","doi":"10.1670/22-062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-062","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The number of described species of Pseudopaludicola has increased at unprecedented rates over the past two decades. This increase was mainly driven by the sampling effort in regions historically neglected and the use of evidence from bioacoustic, genetic, and morphological datasets combined. Here, we describe a new species of Pseudopaludicola from a transitional zone between Amazonia and Cerrado in western Tocantins State as revealed through morphological, molecular, and bioacoustic analysis. Pseudopaludicola javae sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by its small size; knobbed terminal phalanges; smooth upper eyelids and heel; relatively short hind limbs; smooth, whitish, and subgular inflated vocal sac with few melanophores around the jaw; and advertisement call composed of an irregular series of multipulsed notes with 10–17 nonconcatenated pulses separated by intervals of 3–55 ms, emitted at a rate of 27–51 pulses/sec. The new species occurs in four Tocantins municipalities, all in the Araguaia–Tocantins interfluve. We also provide the first records of Pseudopaludicola jazmynmcdonaldae outside the type locality (Caseara Municipality, Tocantins State), extending its distribution nearly 245 km southward from Caseara. Pseudopaludicola javae sp. nov. is the second species of Pseudopaludicola described recently from western Tocantins. Resumo. O número de espécies de Pseudopaludicola descritas cresceu a taxas sem precedentes nas últimas duas décadas. Esse aumento foi impulsionado principalmente pelo esforço de amostragem em regiões historicamente negligenciadas e pelo uso de evidências bioacústicas, genéticas e morfológicas. Nós descrevemos uma nova espécie de Pseudopaludicola de uma zona de transição entre a Amazônia e o Cerrado no oeste do estado do Tocantins revelada através de análises morfológicas, moleculares e bioacústicas. Pseudopaludicola javae sp. nov. é diagnosticada de seus congêneres por seu pequeno tamanho, falanges terminais simples, pálpebras superiores e calcanhar lisos, membros posteriores relativamente curtos, saco vocal subgular, liso e esbranquiçado quando inflado com poucos melanóforos ao redor da mandíbula, e canto de anúncio composto por séries irregulares de notas com 10–17 pulsos não concatenados separados por intervalos de 3–55 ms, emitidos a uma taxa de 27–51 pulsos/s. A nova espécie ocorre em quatro municípios do Tocantins, todos no interflúvio Araguaia-Tocantins. Também fornecemos aqui os primeiros registros de P. jazmynmcdonaldae fora da localidade tipo (município de Caseara, estado do Tocantins), estendendo sua distribuição em cerca de 245 km em linha reta ao sul de Caseara. Pseudopaludicola javae sp. nov. é a segunda espécie de Pseudopaludicola descrita para o oeste do Tocantins nos últimos anos.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"100 1","pages":"297 - 314"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139346840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Copulation Phenology of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)","authors":"Daniel F. Hughes, Sangai Dukuly, Donald F. Becker, Jim Scharosch, Joshua G. Otten, Samuel Wagner, Benjamin M. Reed","doi":"10.1670/22-024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Many organisms respond to environmental change by altering the timing of various life-cycle events. Understanding an organism's phenology, therefore, is crucial for predicting the effects of anthropogenic impacts such as climate change. Nevertheless, collecting adequate data to test hypotheses in secretive species is difficult, especially for rare behaviors. We integrated data from online citizen science platforms, published literature, and unpublished studies to clarify the seasonal timing of copulation in Terrapene ornata, a behavior that is rarely observed. We identified 132 copulation events involving an estimated 256 individual turtles: 19 instances from 5,465 photo-vouchered observations, 78 from 11 publications, and 35 from radiotracking 267 turtles for 8 yr across five sites. Copulations in T. ornata occurred in every month from April to October, with the fewest records in April and October. We found no copulation records in two months of purported aboveground activity (March and November), suggesting that mating in the wild may not occur at any time during the active season. The frequency of reproductive events exhibited multimodality with evident peaks in May and September. Records from the northern portion of the species' range were most frequent in the spring, whereas southern records were most frequent in the fall. Our approach generated a large number of empirical records for a rare behavior in a secretive species across vast spatial scales, which would not have been possible using any of the individual data sources alone.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"57 1","pages":"246 - 253"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46020793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}