Meeting Abstract

P1.70  Sunday, Jan. 4  Metabolic rate, clutch oxygen concentration, temperature and dial patterns of contraction in brooding Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) BRASHEARS, Jake/A*; DENARDO, Dale/F; Arizona State University, Tempe jake.brashears@asu.edu

Multiple models have been proposed to explain the evolution of endothermy. The reproductive model proposed by Farmer (2000) specifies that the initial evolution of endothermy was driven by natural selection for the maternal ability to maintain a thermally homeostatic developmental environment, thus increasing offspring fitness. Burmese pythons are an example of a species that is facultatively endothermic while brooding. We are currently building a broader study that capitalizes on this species to study the evolution of endothermy. As part of the first stage of this study, we examined 3 brooding females at 3 temperatures (25.5C, 28.5C, 31.5C) for 1) diurnal cycle of female muscle contraction rate, 2) the thermal relationship between clutch temperature, female body temperature, and nest temperature, 3) the impact of brooding on clutch oxygen concentration, and 4) the relationship between muscle twitch, heat production, and metabolic rate.