Reproductive phenology in a Neotropical aquatic snake shows marked seasonality influenced by rainfall patterns

García-Cobos, Daniela; Crawford, Andrew J.; Ramírez‐Pinilla, Martha Patricia

doi:10.1080/00222933.2020.1829724

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Undoubtedly, Prey provide snakes with energy required for reproductive activities such as the production of sperms (Shiravi et al, 2012;Aldridge et al, 2020). The reproductive cycles of snakes in many parts of the world, especially tropical regions, are closely correlated with the rainy season and the availability of prey (Henderson and Hoevers, 1977;Pizzatto and Marques, 2006;Shine and Brown, 2008;Barros et al, 2014;García-Cobos et al, 2020). In the present study, prey items were only recovered from the alimentary canals of snake specimens collected in summer and autumn (unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive cycle of the flowered racer (Platyceps florulentus) from a rural area to the east of the Nile Delta, Egypt.

al.¹

2022

Egypt. J. of Aquatic Biolo. and Fish.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive cycle of the flowered racer (Platyceps florulentus) from a rural area to the east of the Nile Delta, Egypt.

al.¹

2022

Egypt. J. of Aquatic Biolo. and Fish.

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“…Non-sessile organisms may respond rapidly to environmental variation by altering their behavior and activity patterns over time; in addition, capture and handling may be required to distinguish the phenophases of these organisms ( e.g. , Tang et al, 2016 ; Marra et al, 2005 ; García-Cobos, Crawford & Ramírez-Pinilla, 2020 ). By contrast, in most modular and sessile organisms (mostly plants but also sessile animals, particularly benthic ones), phenophases are easily distinguishable among individuals along their life cycle, such as flowering, leaf abscission, and budding ( Denny et al., 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying phenological diversity: a framework based on Hill numbers theory

Sánchez-Ochoa

González

Arizmendi

et al. 2022

PeerJ

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Background Despite the great concern triggered by the environmental crisis worldwide, the loss of temporal key functions and processes involved in biodiversity maintenance has received little attention. Species are restricted in their life cycles by environmental variables because of their physiological and behavioral properties; thus, the timing and duration of species’ presence and their activities vary greatly between species within a community. Despite the ecological relevance of such variation, there is currently no measure that summarizes the key temporal aspects of biological diversity and allows comparisons of community phenological patterns. Here, we propose a measure that synthesizes variability of phenological patterns using the Hill numbers-based attribute diversity framework. Methods We constructed a new phenological diversity measure based on the aforementioned framework through pairwise overlapping distances, which was supplemented with wavelet analysis. The Hill numbers approach was chosen as an adequate way to define a set of diversity values of different order q, a parameter that determines the sensitivity of the diversity measure to abundance. Wavelet transform analysis was used to model continuous variables from incomplete data sets for different phenophases. The new measure, which we call Phenological Hill numbers (PD), considers the decouplings of phenophases through an overlapping area value between pairs of species within the community. PD was first tested through simulations with varying overlap in phenophase magnitude and intensity and varying number of species, and then by using one real data set. Results PD maintains the diversity patterns of order q as in any other diversity measure encompassed by the Hill numbers framework. Minimum PD values in the simulated data sets reflect a lack of differentiation in the phenological curves of the community over time; by contrast, the maximum PD values reflected the most diverse simulations in which phenological curves were equally distributed over time. PD values were consistent with the homogeneous distribution of the intensity and concurrence of phenophases over time, both in the simulated and the real data set. Discussion PD provides an efficient, readily interpretable and comparable measure that summarizes the variety of phenological patterns observed in ecological communities. PD retains the diversity patterns of order q characteristic of all diversity measures encompassed by the distance-based Hill numbers framework. In addition, wavelet transform analysis proved useful for constructing a continuous phenological curve. This methodological approach to quantify phenological diversity produces simple and intuitive values for the examination of phenological diversity and can be widely applied to any taxon or community’s phenological traits.

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Heavy Metal Concentration in Neotropical Aquatic Snakes (Helicops pastazae) and Its Potential as a Bioindicator of Water Pollution

Hurtado-Morales

Susa

Amézquita

2022

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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The present study aimed at testing the potential role of the aquatic snake Helicops pastazae as indicators of water pollution by heavy metals. In particular, we tested whether the total heavy metal concentration is related to (1) the distance and position (upstream vs downstream) of the sampling point with the discharge of wastewater; (2) the taxonomic group studied and its place in the trophic chain: piscivorous snakes vs characid sh that co-occur with them; and (3) the organ or tissue examined: snake liver versus muscle. We quanti ed cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry with electrothermal atomization. Signi cant differences were found between some of the sampling points, particularly high metal concentrations were detected upstream on point 1, but no clear spatial pattern was found. There were no signi cant differences in the concentration of any metal between sh and snake muscle, suggesting potential mechanisms of metal excretion in snakes. With regard to interactions, the snake liver had the highest concentrations of cadmium and the muscle of lead and chromium, which may indicate tissue a nity differences for certain metals. Altogether, our results indicate that H. pastazae differentially accumulates contaminants, depending on the tissue and location, which render them useful bioindicators of water contamination.

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Reproductive phenology in a Neotropical aquatic snake shows marked seasonality influenced by rainfall patterns

Cited by 7 publications

References 45 publications

The reproductive cycle of the flowered racer (Platyceps florulentus) from a rural area to the east of the Nile Delta, Egypt.

The reproductive cycle of the flowered racer (Platyceps florulentus) from a rural area to the east of the Nile Delta, Egypt.

Quantifying phenological diversity: a framework based on Hill numbers theory

Heavy Metal Concentration in Neotropical Aquatic Snakes (Helicops pastazae) and Its Potential as a Bioindicator of Water Pollution

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