Meeting Abstract

P3.21  Saturday, Jan. 5  Effect of Diet on Age of First Reproduction in African House Snakes (Lamprophis fuliginosus) BYARS, Dawn J.*; FORD, Neil B.; Univ. of Texas at Tyler; Univ. of Texas at Tyler mbyars@patriots.uttyler.edu

Age at maturity is one of the most significant life history traits in regards to the population ecology of a species since shorter generation time results in faster population growth. Very few studies in snakes have addressed the effect that energy intake has on this particular trait. The present study examines the effect of a high diet (50% body mass [BM]) versus that of a low diet (20% BM) on the age of first reproduction. The African House Snake, Lamprophis fuliginosus, is an excellent model organism because it does not require hibernation to stimulate reproduction as do temperate colubrids, and because multiple clutches can be laid in a year. Six female neonates (siblings were 100% related) from ten clutches were randomly assigned a high diet or a low diet. Reproductive trials were conducted twice a month beginning at four months when females were well below the minimum reproductive size. The females were paired with adult males in 40 liter aquaria for 24 hours. Sperm smears were performed to ascertain if mating occurred. Growth rates were compared between the two diets, and also among the clutches. Diet did influence age of first reproduction; however, variation occurred within diets. Some females on high diets mated as early as five months whereas others not until nine months of age. This variation had a genetic component, as females from the same clutches were more consistent in age at first reproduction. The earliest reproductive age for females on the low diet was eight and a half months regardless of which clutch they originated from. This study provides insight into the role that energy intake plays in the development of life history strategies of tropical snake species.