Using Physiological Structure to Model Individual Production: Determinants of Female Reproductive Effort

University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR

Investigators

Abstract

Current scenarios of predicted environmental change raise fundamental questions about the expected responses of animal populations to changes in local climate and food availability. Animal responses to environment are mediated by physiological functions such as metabolism, digestion, growth and reproduction. Using parallel simulation modeling and experimental studies in the laboratory and in nature, the PI will investigate the effect of food availability on reproduction in the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) in northwest Arkansas. Rattlesnakes are excellent subjects for these studies because of their abundance and large size which allows the use of radio-transmitters (for location and body temperature information). The simulation model is based on information about energy flow through timber rattlesnakes discovered under a previous grant (IBN 9728470). New studies will build upon and complement previous work. A laboratory population of snakes will be maintained under three feeding regimes designed to produce variation in reproduction. In nature, an experimental food manipulation will test model predictions by comparing reproduction between supplementally fed and control groups of radio-tagged female rattlesnakes. Information gathered from these experiments will be used to test previous predictions made by the simulation model, and then to refine and improve the simulation. The results of this study will enhance our ability to predict the responses of animal populations to environmental change. The described studies will also provide multiple opportunities to enhance science literacy and involve students (from grade school to graduate school) in the process of science.