Trophic and isotopic ecology of snakes and their prey

• Grant number: 19/20807-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Plínio Barbosa de Camargo
• Grantee: Melissa Gaste Martinez
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/01304-4 - Widllife in agricultural landscapes: patterns and processes, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

This subproject in the more specific area Ofherpetology will address the collection of snake specimens, focusing on snakes and their prey of the viperid family (Bothrops and Crotalus), and may eventually collect other snake genres by the pit fall traps method. In Crotalus durissus terrificus, the rattle (rattle) will be used, separated in sequences, where each follow-up presented a distinct isotopic value of 13C, reflecting the environment in which this animal was found and the food source he was consuming, thus showing the food history of this snake. In Bothrops of different sampled environments will be verified isotopic differences from food sources and trophic levels between these snakes of different environments in the tissues of these animals. Fauna monitoring prioritizes agricultural landscapes for two basic reasons: land use changes linked to agricultural expansion or intensification are possibly the major cause of biodiversity loss, however, agricultural landscapes still contain a significant portion of biota, including endangered, harmful, economic and other species and may eventually provide shelter and food resources. This means that agricultural landscapes should be prioritized in long-term biodiversity monitoring programs. (AU)