Inter-individual variation and temperature-dependent antipredator behavior in the snake Tomodon dorsatus (Dipsadidae)

Autor(es)

Citadini, Jessyca Michele ^[1] ; Navas, Carlos Arturo ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Fisiol, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Behavioural Processes; v. 97, p. 11-17, JUL 2013.
• Citações Web of Science: 6

Resumo

Although many studies assessed the influence of temperature on the behavior of ectotermic vertebrates, little attention has been given to interindividual variation in the defensive responses of reptiles. In the present study we investigated the defensive behavior of the snake Tomodon dorsatus, in order to test the hypotheses that (1) individuals differ in their antipredator behavior consistently with the concept of behavioral syndromes, (2) temperature influences the defensive behavior, and (3) these two factors interact with each other. There was significant interindividual variation in defensive behavior, as well as consistently aggressive, passive or evasive behaviors. Temperature influenced aggressiveness, which was slightly higher when body temperature was lower, but this trend was only evident in animals with aggressive disposition. Our results corroborate the hypothesis of interaction between individuality of behavior and temperature-dependent defensive behavior in T. dorsatus. These results, together with results from previous studies, suggest that the evolution of temperature-dependent defensive behavior differs among lineages of ectothermic tetrapods. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: insert SI title. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 08/57687-0 - Effects of global climate change of the Brazilian fauna: a conservation physiology approach
• Beneficiário: Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa de Pesquisa sobre Mudanças Climáticas Globais - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 09/04133-0 - Influência da temperatura no comportamento defensivo em Tomodon dorsatus (serpente, Colubridae)
• Beneficiário: Jessyca Michele Citadini
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado