Effect of Capture, Phenotype, and Physiological Status on Blood Glucose and Plasma Corticosterone Levels in Free-Ranging Dice Snakes

Lakušić, Margareta; Billy, Gopal; Bjelica, Vukašin; Golubović, A.; Anđelković, Marko; Bonnet, Xavier

doi:10.1086/711958

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…The potential elevation of plasma corticosterone levels due to capture and handling ( Herr et al , 2017 ) brings in a bias that needs to be considered also in our study, since handling of the snakes for blood sampling was within a time frame of ~5 min (never exceeding 10 min). Interestingly though, the corticosterone levels determined in our cohort were overall much lower than those reported in wild, free-ranging snakes, such as rattlesnakes, dice snakes and watersnakes at the time of blood sampling ( Lakušić et al , 2020 ; Claunch et al , 2017 ; McCallie and Klukowski, 2022 ; Lind et al , 2018 ). This would indicate that captive snakes, which are at least used to handling, are not significantly stressed by the blood sampling.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

Haematology, biochemistry and morphological features of peripheral blood cells in captive Boa constrictor

Dervas

Michalopoulou

Liesegang

et al. 2023

Conservation Physiology

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The common boa (Boa constrictor) belongs to the family Boidae and represents one of the most popular traded and kept snake species in captivity. The early diagnosis, prevention and prophylaxis of diseases in this species, and in reptiles in general, still pose major challenges, also due to the lack of reliable reference values. This prompted us to conduct a study on clinically healthy captive B. constrictor to assess their basic health parameters in the blood (haematological and biochemical values, stress markers). Several parameters differed significantly between younger (<3 years) and older (≥3 years) boas; in the latter, the percentages of eosinophils, the haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, as well as the albumin and total protein levels, were higher. In male snakes, cholesterol levels were significantly higher than in females. Light and electron microscopy as well as immunohistochemistry served to identify and determine the morphological features of peripheral blood cells, that is, heterophils, basophils, eosinophils, azurophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, thrombocytes and erythrocytes. Leukocyte subpopulations, that is, T and B cells and monocytes, were also identified based on specific marker expression. The study provides data on haematological, biochemical and stress hormone levels, suitable as reference values, and on the blood cell morphology of B. constrictor which can serve as a guideline for further research on this species.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

Haematology, biochemistry and morphological features of peripheral blood cells in captive Boa constrictor

Dervas

Michalopoulou

Liesegang

et al. 2023

Conservation Physiology

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“…Further research that can better assess the actual duration of lace monitor restraint within cage traps is needed to discount the effect of the trapping method on this species' corticosterone responses. Other studies comparing different trapping methods have suggested that capture methodology can lead to differences in individuals' acute stress response at similar restraint durations (Lakušić et al 2020). Importantly, for individual lace monitors, given the short duration of the overall trapping event (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capture predicates corticosterone responses and a low recapture likelihood in a varanid lizard

Jessop

2022

Wildlife Res.

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Context. Understanding both the short-and long-term consequences of live animal capture is desirable to limit potential data biases or compromise animal welfare. The short-term elevation of glucocorticoid hormones in animals is an expected short-term stress consequence of trapping and restraint experiences. However, because these hormones also influence behaviour and memory, they may provide a physiological basis through which individuals vary in their recapture responses to subsequent trapping episodes. Aims. This objective of this study was to evaluate the interplay among trapping method, corticosterone responsiveness and recapture likelihood in a lizard, the lace monitor (Varanus varius). The first aim compared how different capture methods and associated restraint durations influenced plasma corticosterone of lace monitors. The second aim evaluated the relationship between capture methodology, corticosterone response and annual recapture frequency. The third aim measured yearly estimates for the probability of lace monitor recapture. Methods. Lace monitors were cage-trapped or noosecaptured at 76 sampling sites across three annual sampling periods to measure capture experience, obtain blood samples and estimate recapture probabilities. Results. As expected, an increased restraint time and exposure to different capture methods significantly influenced corticosterone concentrations in lace monitors. Lace monitor recapture rates were meagre, suggesting that irrespective of the capture method, restraint duration and corticosterone levels, any form of initial capture experience typically leads to long-lasting aversive behaviour. Conclusions. Although plasma corticosterone concentrations may be tell-tale of a lace monitor's duration to short-term capture and restraint, they were not associated with the recapture likelihood in subsequent trapping events. Implications. Rapid and seemingly longlasting trap aversion has apparent implications for the design of population monitoring programs used to study lace monitor population ecology.

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“…If unsuccessful, they may rapidly discharge foul‐smelling cloacal secretions mixed with faeces and urine, regurgitate recently ingested prey, or bluff an aggressive display by flattening their head while hissing and making sham strikes (Golubović et al., 2021). DF is usually considered to be a last resort behaviour; individuals that display DF exhibit a decreased stress response (lower levels of corticosterone) compared to non‐displaying individuals (Lakušić et al., 2020). Such physiological bases of DF suggest that it is not randomly expressed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tongue flicking heralds flight behaviour following passive antipredator displays in dice snakes

Bjelica,

Anđelković,

Maričić

et al. 2024

Journal of Zoology

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When captured, many prey respond by biting the predator or struggling to get free. However, one indirect escape option is death feigning (DF), in which complete immobility supposedly “tricks” the predator into abandoning its meal. But lying motionless and exposed to a predator is dangerous; therefore, individuals should optimize DF occurrence and duration. We captured colour polymorphic dice snakes (Natrix tessellata, Natricidae) (N = 271) in the field and measured two behavioural responses: (1) the occurrence and duration of immobility/DF; (2) the number of tongue‐flicking sequences (TF). Tongue flicking is an essential component of a key sensory mechanism to check the safety of the environment before attempting escape. We experimentally assessed the relationship between these two behaviours and the effects of phenotypic characteristic of snakes on the occurrence and duration of immobility and of TF. Snake phenotype had multiple effects. Gravid females avoided DF and displayed more TF sequences during the tests compared to non‐gravid females and males. Blotched snakes stayed immobile longer than green and melanistic snakes. Larger individuals remained in DF for longer and showed fewer TF sequences than smaller individuals. Snakes burdened with a recent meal postponed fleeing and displayed more TF sequences than snakes without food. Finally, snakes showing more TF sequences postponed fleeing, which suggests that dice snakes assessed predatory risks and adapted escape behaviour to their risk status. Future studies should examine how individuals estimate the appropriate timing to shift from immobility to escape.

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Effect of Capture, Phenotype, and Physiological Status on Blood Glucose and Plasma Corticosterone Levels in Free-Ranging Dice Snakes

Cited by 6 publications

References 65 publications

Haematology, biochemistry and morphological features of peripheral blood cells in captive Boa constrictor

Haematology, biochemistry and morphological features of peripheral blood cells in captive Boa constrictor

Capture predicates corticosterone responses and a low recapture likelihood in a varanid lizard

Tongue flicking heralds flight behaviour following passive antipredator displays in dice snakes

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