Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of dehydration on the thermal preferences of the Western tiger snake, Notechis scutatus

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Temperature selection in tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) is strongly influenced by hydration state and this response varies between two distinct neighbouring populations on semi-arid Carnac Island and mainland wetland (Herdsman Lake). Fed and hydrated (control) Carnac Island snakes selected a preferred body temperature of 26.2±1.2 °C and an average maximum temperature of 32.5±0.5 °C in a photo-thermal gradient. Dehydrated Carnac Island snakes selected a significantly lower preferred body temperature (19.7±1.6 °C) and average maximum temperature (27.7±1.0 °C). Control Herdsman Lake snakes selected a preferred body temperature of 27.5±0.6 °C and an average maximum temperature of 33.3±0.4 °C. Dehydrated Herdsman Lake snakes selected a significantly lower preferred body temperature (23.3±1.1 °C) and a lower average maximum temperature (31.8±0.6 °C). Thermal depression (decreased preferred body and average maximum temperatures) in response to dehydration was greater for Carnac Island than Herdsman Lake snakes. As decreases in temperature and activity can reduce water loss, our laboratory data suggest that the survival of the relict population of tiger snakes on Carnac Island is associated with thermoregulatory modifications, which may have the effect of enhancing water conservation in this waterless habitat.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2a–b.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5a–b.
Fig. 6a–b.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AMT:

average maximum temperature

ATR:

activity temperature range

BCI:

body condition indices

BM:

body mass

%BML:

percentage of body mass lost

CI:

Carnac Island

EWL:

evaporative water loss

HL:

Herdsman Lake

LPBT:

lower preferred body temperature

PBT:

preferred body temperature

SVL:

snout-vent length

UPBT:

upper preferred body temperature

References

  • Atchley WR, Gaskins CT, Anderson D (1976) Statistical properties of ratios. I. Empirical results. Systematic Zool 25:137–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakken GS (1992) Measurement and application of operative and standard operative temperatures in ecology. Am Zool 32:194–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballinger RE, Marion KR, Sexton OJ (1970) Thermal ecology of the lizard Anolis limifrons, with comparative notes on three additional Panamanian anoles. Ecology 51:246–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Barber BJ, Crawford EC Jr (1977) A stochastic dual-limit hypothesis for behavioural thermoregulation in lizards. Physiol Zool 50:53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck DD (1995) Ecology and energetics of three sympatric rattlesnake species in the Sonoran desert. J Herp 29:211–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentley PJ (1976) Osmoregulation. In: Gans C, Dawson WR (eds) Biology of the Reptilia. Academic Press, New York, pp 365–412

  • Berk ML, Heath JE (1975) An analysis of thermoregulation in the lizard, Dipsosaurus dorsalis. J Therm Biol 1:15–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnet X, Bradshaw SD, Shine R, Pearson D (1999) Why do snakes have eyes? The (non-)effect of blindness in island tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 46:267–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnet X, Pearson D, Ladyman MT, Lourdais O, Bradshaw SD (2002) "Heaven" for serpents? A mark-recapture study of Tiger Snakes (Notechis scutatus) on Carnac Island, Western Australia. Austr Ecol 27:442–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw SD (1997) Homeostasis in desert reptiles. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

  • Bradshaw SD, Morris KD, Bradshaw FJ (2001) Water and electrolyte homeostasis and kidney function of desert-dwelling marsupial wallabies in Western Australia. J Comp Physiol B 171:23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown GP, Weatherhead PJ (2000) Thermal ecology and sexual size dimorphism in northern water snakes, Nerodia sipedon. Ecol Monogr 70:311–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Charland MB, Gregory PT (1990) The influence of female reproductive status on thermoregulation in a viviparous snake, Crotalus virdis. Copeia 1990:1089–1098

    Google Scholar 

  • Chelazzi G, Calzolai R (1986) Thermal benefits from familiarity with the environment in a reptile. Oecologia 68:557–558

    Google Scholar 

  • Christian KA, Bedford GS (1995) Seasonal changes in thermoregulation by the frillneck lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii, in tropical Australia. Ecology 76:124–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowles RB, Bogert CM (1944) A preliminary study of the thermal requirements of desert reptiles. Bull Am Mus Nat Hist 83:261–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowley SR (1987) The effect of desiccation on the preferred body temperature and activity level of the lizard Sceloporus undulatus. Copeia 1987:25–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Dessauer HC (1970) Blood chemistry of reptiles: physiological and evolutionary aspects. In: Gans C, Parsons TS (eds) Biology of the Reptilia. Academic Press, New York, pp 1–72

  • DeWitt CB, Friedman RM (1979) Significance of skewness in ectotherm thermoregulation. Am Zool 19:195–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Downs CT, Perrin MR (1990) The effect of diet on water and energy turnover rates of four gerbillurus species in captivity. J Zool (Lond) 222:215–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Duguy R (1972) Notes sur la biologie de Vipera aspis dans les Pyrenees. Terre Vie 26:98–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Dupré RK, Crawford EC Jr (1985) Behavioural thermoregulation during dehydration and osmotic loading of the desert iguana. Physiol Zool 58:357–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory PT, Weatherhead PJ (2000) Thermal ecology and sexual size dimorphism in northern water snakes, Nerodia sipedon. Ecol Monogr 70:311–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory PT, Crampton LH, Skebo KM (1999) Conflicts and interactions among reproduction, thermoregulation and feeding in viviparous reptiles: are gravid snakes anorexic? J Zool (Lond) 248:231–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath JE (1970) Behavioural regulation of body temperature in poikilotherms. Physiologist 13:399–410

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hertz PE, Huey RB, Stevenson RD (1993) Evaluating temperature regulation by field-active ectotherms: the fallacy of the inappropriate question. Am Nat 142:796–818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huey RB (1982) Temperature, physiology and the ecology of reptiles. In: Gans C, Pough FH (eds) Biology of the Reptilia. Academic Press, New York, pp 25–91

  • Huey RB, Slatkin M (1976) Cost and benefit of lizard thermoregulation. Quart Rev Biol 51:363–383

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krawchuk MA, Brooks RJ (1998) Basking behaviour as a measure of reproductive cost and energy allocation in the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta. Herpetologica 54:112–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Lillywhite HB (1980) Thermoregulation in Australian elapid snakes. Copeia 1980:452–458

    Google Scholar 

  • Lillywhite HB (1987) Temperature, energetics and physiological ecology. In: Seigel RA, Collins JT, Novak SS (eds) Snakes: ecology and evolutionary biology. Macmillan, New York, pp 422–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Lillywhite HB, Mittal AK, Garg TK, Das I (1998) Basking behavior, sweating and thermal ecology of the Indian tree frog, Polypedates maculatus. J Herp 32:169–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Malvin GM, Woods SC (1991) Behavioural thermoregulation in the toad, Bufo marinus: effects of air humidity. J Exp Zool 258:322–326

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mautz WJ (1980) Factors influencing evaporative water loss in lizards. Comp Biochem Physiol A 67:429–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Mautz WJ (1982) Patterns of evaporative water loss. In: Gans C, Pough FH (eds) Biology of the Reptilia. Academic Press, London, pp 443–481

  • Minnich JE (1977) Adaptive responses in the water and electrolyte budgets of native and desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii, to chronic drought. Desert Tortoise Council Proceedings Symposium 1977:102–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnich JE (1979) Reptiles. In: Maloiy GMO (ed) Comparative physiology of osmoregulation in animals. Academic Press, New York, pp 391–641

  • Minnich JE (1982) The use of water. In: Gans C, Pough FH (eds) Biology of the Reptilia. Academic Press, New York, pp 325–395

  • Nagy KA (1972) Water and electrolyte budgets of a free-living lizard, Sauromalus obesus. J Comp Physiol 79:39–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagy KA (1973) Behaviour, diet and reproduction in a desert lizard, Sauromalus obesus. Copeia 1973:93–102

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor MP, Tracy CR (1992) Thermoregulation by juvenile toads of Bufo woodhousei in the field and in the laboratory. Copeia 1992:865–876

    Google Scholar 

  • Preest MR, Pough FH (1989) Interaction of temperature and hydration on locomotion of toads. Funct Ecol 3:693–699

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice GE (1982) Plasma arginine vasotocin concentrations in the lizard Varanus gouldii (Gray) following water loading, salt loading and dehydration. Gen Comp Endocrinol 47:1–6

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson IC, Weatherhead PJ (1992) The role of temperature in microhabitat selection by northern water snakes, Nerodia sipedon. Can J Zool 70:417–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohr DH, Malone BS (2001) Activity times and body temperature in Australian Copperheads (Serpentes: Elapidae). Aust J Zool 49:223–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen PC (1991) Comparative field study of thermal preferenda in garter snakes (Thamnophis). J Herp 25:301–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Saint Girons H, Bradshaw SD (1981) Preliminary observation on behavioural thermoregulation in an elapid snake, the dugite, Pseudonaja affinis (Gunther). J R Soc West Aust 4:13–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt-Nielsen K, Dawson WR (1964) Terrestrial animals in dry heat: desert reptiles. In: Dill DB (ed) Handbook of physiology. American Physiological Society, Bethesda, Maryland, pp 467–480

  • Schwaner TD (1989) A field study of thermoregulation in black tiger snakes (Notechis ater niger: Elapidae) on the Franklin Islands, South Australia. Herpetologica 45:393–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Shine R (1979) Activity patterns in Australian elapid snakes (Squamata: Serpentes: Elapidae). Herpetologica 35:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Shine R, Lambeck R (1990) Seasonal shifts in thermoregulatory behaviour of Australian Blacksnakes, Pseudechis porphyriacus (Elapidae). J Herp 24:302–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinsch U (1989) Behavioural thermoregulation of the Andean toad, Bufo spinulosus at high altitudes. Oecologia 80:32–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Slip DJ, Shine R (1988) Thermoregulation of free-ranging diamond pythons, Morelia spilota (Serpentes Boidae). Copeia 1988:984–995

    Google Scholar 

  • Statsoft (1995) Statistica 5.1: General conventions and statistics. Statsoft, Tulsa

  • Statsoft (2001) Statistica 6.0: General conventions and statistics. Statsoft, Tulsa

  • Templeton JR (1970) Reptiles. In: Whittow GC (ed) Comparative physiology of thermoregulation. Academic Press, New York, pp 167–221

  • Webb JK, Shine R (1998) Thermoregulation by a nocturnal elapid snake (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) in southeastern Australia. Physiol Zool 71:680–692

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Withers PC, Thompson GG (2000) Cocoon formation and metabolic depression by the aestivating hylid frogs Cyclorana australis and Cyclorana cultripes (Amphibia: Hylidae). J R Soc West Aust 83:39–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1999) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey

Download references

Acknowledgements

Research was supported by the Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia. U.W.A. Animal Ethics Committee approved experimental procedures and the Department of CALM, Western Australia issued licences for the collection of animals. Thanks go to Xavier Bonnet of the CNRS, France, who first initiated ecological research on this excellent model species, and to Fabian Aubret, Stewart Ford and Dale Roberts for comments on the text.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Centre for Native Animal Research, The University of Western Australia, 6009, Crawley, WA, Australia

    M. Ladyman & D. Bradshaw

Authors
  1. M. Ladyman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Bradshaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Ladyman.

Additional information

Communicated by I.D. Hume

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ladyman, M., Bradshaw, D. The influence of dehydration on the thermal preferences of the Western tiger snake, Notechis scutatus . J Comp Physiol B 173, 239–246 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-003-0328-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-003-0328-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation