Abstract
Due to their longevity, strong site tenure, poikilothermic metabolism, and low-energy specializations, reptiles might serve as excellent environmental sentinels. Cottonmouth snakes are generalist predators and scavengers, and as such, may have higher exposure to persistent environmental contaminants as a result of bioaccumulation. Traditionally, assessment and monitoring of contaminant exposure in reptiles have involved lethal sampling techniques. In this paper, we describe a non-destructive technique for sampling liver tissue in live anesthetized Florida cottonmouths. Wild-caught snakes (n = 21) were anesthetized with propofol, and a liver wedge biopsy was obtained by clamping the edge of the organ with two small hemostatic mosquito forceps via right-sided coeliotomy incision. A minimum required tissue sample weighing >100 mg was harvested from all except one of the animals. No mortalities occurred during the procedures or recovery from anesthesia, and all snakes were released back into the field after the animal had consumed prey and defecated, usually within 2 weeks following surgery. Hemorrhage was a minor complication in most snakes, especially those with friable discolored livers. The procedure appeared to have no short-term deleterious effects, and two biopsied individuals were captured after being released into the field and appeared to be normal and healthy. However, follow-up studies and recapture of more snakes are needed to assess long-term survivability. Our non-destructive liver sampling technique might be implemented in toxicological studies of other squamates and could help to minimize the lethal sampling of threatened species.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Kevin Neal, Kristy Staudenmaier and Vanessa Trujillo for assistance with field collection of snakes; and Tina Chen, Grayson Cole, Trevor Gerlach, Reichel Siebert, Chris D. Smith and Claudio Verdugo for assistance with the surgical procedures and recording of data. We also thank Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park for permission to capture and utilize animals. This research was conducted under permits issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the University of Florida Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. This work was financially supported by a private donation from Nancy Taylor.
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Quesada, R.J., McCleary, R.J.R., Heard, D.J. et al. Non-lethal sampling of liver tissue for toxicologic evaluation of Florida cottonmouths snakes, Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti . Ecotoxicology 23, 33–37 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-013-1148-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-013-1148-8