Regulation of Seasonal Mating Behavior in Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

Copeia ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 1974 (3) ◽  
pp. 681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Aleksiuk ◽  
Patrick T. Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis

Sex and seasonal differences in metabolism in the red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. 2362-2368 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Crews ◽  
Mark Grassman ◽  
William R. Garstka ◽  
Andrew Halpert ◽  
Brian Camazine
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Mass Gain ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Reproductive Behaviors ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Laboratory Populations

Field and laboratory studies revealed that male and female Canadian red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, differ in the pattern of body mass gain, nutrient storage, and nutrient availability following emergence from hibernation. In nature males fail to gain weight or store fat until 3 weeks after emergence from prolonged (7 months) winter hibernation. In the laboratory males also do not exhibit an increase in body mass following emergence from artificial hibernation (17 weeks) until mating behavior has ended, about 3 weeks after emergence; as in free-living males, fat stores do not increase until all mating behavior has ceased. In contrast, females in both field and laboratory populations gain weight steadily following emergence but exhibit a gradual decrease in the proportion of abdominal fat reserves to body mass. While females exhibit increased serum levels of protein, unchanged levels of glucose, and decreased levels of lipid, males exhibit unchanged levels of protein, increased levels of glucose, and decreased levels of lipid. Males display a greater resting oxygen consumption postemergence compared with females. Oxygen consumption was decreased in both sexes during the period coinciding with mating; at the end of breeding, oxygen consumption increased. These data are consistent with the marked differences in reproductive behaviors between the sexes following emergence from hibernation.

Thermal regulation of spring mating behavior in the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis)

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 768-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander W. L. Hawley ◽  
Michael Aleksiuk
Keyword(s):  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Rapid Onset ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Thermal Threshold ◽  
Thermal Thresholds ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis ◽  
Increasing Temperature ◽  
Thermal Induction

Exposure of Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis to elevated temperatures immediately after emergence from hibernation induced intense mating behavior. The thermal threshold for courtship varied widely among individuals, and ranged from below 5 °C to between 20° and 25 °C. The lowest temperature at which copulation occurred was 10 °C. Both courtship and copulation increased with increasing temperature, and reached maximal levels at 25° and 30 °C respectively. The existence of low thermal thresholds for mating behavior and the marked stimulating effect of temperature on mating behavior explain the rapid onset of courtship and copulation after emergence from hibernation. A possible mechanism for thermal induction of mating behavior is discussed.

Pheromonal Mediation of Intraseasonal Declines in the Attractivity of Female Red-Sided Garter Snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily J. Uhrig ◽  
Deborah I. Lutterschmidt ◽  
Robert T. Mason ◽  
Michael P. LeMaster
Keyword(s):  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis
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