Phylogenetic analysis of standard metabolic rate of snakes: a new proposal for the understanding of interspecific variation in feeding behavior

Abstract

The current proposal about the variation of standard metabolic rates (SMR) in snakes predicts that SMR is influenced by the feeding frequency (frequent or infrequent feeders). However, feeding frequency in snakes is poorly studied and hard to quantify under natural conditions. Alternatively, foraging strategy was studied for a large number of species and is usually related to the feeding frequency. In this work, we performed a meta-analysis on the SMR of compiled data from 74 species of snakes obtained from the literature and five more different species of lanceheads (genus Bothrops), after categorization according to the foraging mode (ambush or active foraging) and regarding their phylogenetic history. We tested the hypothesis that foraging mode (FM) is a determinant factor on the interspecific variation of SMR despite the phylogenetic relationship among species. We demonstrated that FM predicted SMR, but there is also a partial phylogenetic structuration of SMR in snakes. We also detected that evolution rates of SMR in active foragers seem to be higher than ambush-hunting snakes. We suggested that foraging mode has a major effect over the evolution of SMR in snakes, which could represent an ecophysiological co-adaptation, since ambush hunters (with low feeding rates) present a lower maintenance energetic cost (SMR) when compared to active foragers. The higher SMR evolution rates for active foraging snakes could be related to a higher heterogeny in the degree of activity during hunting by active foragers when compared to ambush-hunting snakes.

Do prolonged fasting periods influence the postprandial metabolic responses in turtles? What can Trachemys scripta elegans teach us about this?

“…After meal intake, the upregulation in processes related to digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients, as well as protein synthesis, are accompanied by a marked increase in aerobic metabolism (Secor, 2009). The duration and scope of such metabolic increments can vary from days to weeks, depending essentially on the animal mode of life, body mass and temperature, and the quantity and quality of food ingested (Beaupre, 2005; Secor, 2005; Stuginski, Navas, Barros, Camacho, et al, 2018; Zaidan & Beaupre, 2003).…”

“…ingested (Beaupre, 2005;Secor, 2005;Stuginski, Navas, Barros, Camacho, et al, 2018;Zaidan & Beaupre, 2003).…”

Reptiles on the wrong track? Moving beyond traditional estimators with dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Models

“…Species 1 corresponds to highly mobile (active hunters) with long-term shelter sites (e.g., monitor lizards, some skinks, and elapids like mambas and king cobras). Highly mobile reptile species are usually active hunters (i.e., forage by actively searching for prey), as they show higher values of standard metabolic rates than ambush predators [ 40 ]. Foraging activity can vary widely among active hunting snake species, depending on the kind of prey hunted [ 40 ], we chose to reflect a specialization on larger prey as it may be favoured over small prey items (e.g., [ 41 , 42 ]).…”

“…Species 2 represents less mobile reptiles, capable of moving long distances but are ambush foragers, and will still shelter for long periods (e.g., pythons). Sedentary, “sit-and-wait” ambush predators include many snake species, such as vipers, pythons, boas, as well as some colubrids and elapids [ 40 , 43 ]. Snakes with an ambush foraging strategy consume a wide range of meal sizes [ 44 ]: We chose to model Species 2 after a specialization on larger prey and thus longer digestion periods.…”

Shifts in space and time: ecological transitions affect the evolution of resting metabolic rates in microteiid lizards

“…Among physiological traits, metabolism is of distinctive relevance in scenarios concerning ecological shifts because of its sensitivity to temperature (Dawson, 1975;Litzgusa and Hopkins, 2003;Piercy et al, 2015) and clear associations with species' ecology (Hare et al, 2007;Stuginski et al, 2017). Empirical evidence corroborates a clear relationship between metabolism and microhabitat type (Sedlácek, 2007;Wu et al, 2015), as well as associations between metabolism and the period of activity (see Autumn et al, 1999;Hare et al, 2006Hare et al, , 2007Putnam and Murphy, 1982 for examples).…”