Physiological state influences evaporative water loss and microclimate preference in the snake Vipera aspis

Physiology & Behavior
Andréaz DupouéOlivier Lourdais

Abstract

Animals typically respond to environmental variation by adjusting their physiology, behavior, or both. Ectothermic animals are particularly sensitive to microclimatic conditions and behaviorally thermoregulate to optimize physiological performance. Yet, thermoregulation can be costly and may obligate a physiological tradeoff with water loss. Presumably, this tradeoff intensifies when animals undergo necessary life-history events (e.g., pregnancy or digestion) that impose significant behavioral and physiological changes, including shifts in behavioral thermoregulation and increased metabolic rate. Thus, behavioral responses, such as modified microclimatic preferences, may help mitigate the physiological tradeoff between thermoregulation and water loss. Herein, we examined the influence of major physiological states (specifically, pregnancy, ecdysis, and digestion) on evaporative water loss and on behavioral adjustments in a viviparous snake, Vipera aspis. First, we used open-flow respirometry to measure the effects of physiological states and microclimatic conditions (temperature and humidity) on the rate of total evaporative water loss (TEWL) and metabolic rate (rate of O2 consumption, V˙O2). Then, we experimentally tested the ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 17, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Andréaz DupouéOlivier Lourdais
Jan 10, 2016·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Andréaz DupouéOlivier Lourdais
Sep 16, 2020·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Thomas TullyJean-Pierre Baron
Sep 15, 2018·International Journal of Epidemiology·Dileepa Senajith EdiriweeraHithanadura Janaka de Silva
Aug 12, 2020·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Christian O ChukwukaAlison Cree

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