Ecology of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus Catenatus Catenatus) From Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, Illinois
Dreslik, Michael Joseph
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/83112
Description
Title
Ecology of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus Catenatus Catenatus) From Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, Illinois
Author(s)
Dreslik, Michael Joseph
Issue Date
2005
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Phillips, Christopher A.
Department of Study
Natural Resrouces and Environmental Sciences
Discipline
Natural Resrouces and Environmental Sciences
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife
Language
eng
Abstract
Detailed studies of the life history and ecology of an organism are important in assessing range-wide variation within species. Additionally because of global declines in biodiversity, knowledge of an organism's life history and ecology become central to developing conservation and management regimes. I studied populations of Eastern Massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) at its southern range limit from 1999--2003. I found no sexual size dimorphism (SSD) present in either snout-vent length (SVL) or mass but SSD was present for tail length (TL). I observed variation in growth rates of cohorts and models predicted the 1998 and 1999 cohorts simultaneously matured in 2000. Contrary to previous research, gravid females did not have warmer body temperatures (Tb) than non-gravid females and males. Body temperature gradually stabilized between a photoperiod of 10 hrs to 14 hrs and snakes achieved the warmest Tbs during midday with >12.5 hrs of light. Sex and reproductive states (gravid females, non-gravid females, and males; SRSs) frequently changed locations but did not differ in the distances moved. Gravid female movements peaked in spring and summer, non-gravid females in spring and fall, and males in summer and fall. There were no significant differences in activity area between SRSs or size classes. Snakes occupied activity area segments longer as photoperiod increased. Massasaugas preferred grassland habitats, but in the fall habitat use patterns were random. Early in the active season, gravid females preferred more open habitats compared with males and non-gravid females.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
