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| Author(s): |
Verônica Alberto Barros
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São José do Rio Preto. 2017-01-18. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas. São José do Rio Preto |
| Defense date: | 2016-08-31 |
| Advisor: | Selma Maria de Almeida Santos |
| Abstract | |
Reproduction is essential for the perpetuation of any species. That is why it is a central theme for studies on the biology of any organism. Here, I present new data on several aspects of reproduction for Bothrops species, including B. cotiara, B. alternatus, B. pubescens, B. diporus, B. mattogrossensis, B. neuwiedi and B. pauloensis. The characterization of reproductive events such as gametogenesis, sperm storage, formation of mating plugs and activity of the sexual segment of the kidneys (SSK) is provided. I also describe the presence of sperm inside the SSK for the first time in a snake species and intersexuality in B. moojeni and B. erythromelas. I evaluated the influence of environmental factors and phylogenetic inertia in the determination of reproductive events in these snakes by (1) a comparison of the timing of reproductive events between species which indicates that both factors may be important, (2) ancestral character state reconstructions showing a strong phylogenetic conservatism in sexual dimorphism with females being the larger sex and high variability in sexual maturity between species, (3) statistical analysis indicating that male reproductive variables do not vary according to temperature and rain in B. pubescens. Although there are many observations of reproductive events outside the expected periods for Bothrops species (mainly for timing of ovulation, pregnancy and sperm storage strategies), reports of mating and births are concentrated in autumn and summer, respectively, showing that although phylogenetic inertia has a high influence on the conserved timing of these reproductive events in Bothrops, environmental factors may also play a role in the plasticity observed in some species and individuals. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 12/15037-4 - Evolution of reproductive strategies in the genus Bothrops (Serpentes, Viperidae) |
| Grantee: | Verônica Alberto Barros |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |