Meeting Abstract

106.5  Tuesday, Jan. 7 09:30  Reproductive implications of endoparasitic infections in two garter snake species (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis and T. radix) UHRIG, E.J.*; FRIESEN, C.R.; MASON, R.T.; Oregon State University, Corvallis; University of Sydney, Australia; Oregon State University, Corvallis uhrige@science.oregonstate.edu

Red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) are host to several genera of endoparasites including nematodes and trematodes in the lungs, cestodes in the digestive tract, and trematodes concentrated in the visceral fat deposits and the ventral tissue of the tail. The trematodes found in the fat deposits and tail tissue (Fibricola and Alaria species, respectively) are very prevalent and tend to have high infection intensities that can lead to extensive tissue damage. Indeed, it is not uncommon for a portion of the tail to be lost, an injury that can interfere with reproductive success due to mechanical impairment. Whether reproduction is affected in other ways, such as altered gamete production, has not been previously investigated, nor have prior studies investigated whether these parasites have similarly high prevalence and intensity in other garter snake species. Our current study demonstrates that plains garter snakes (Thamnophis radix) are host to parasite infracommunities similar to those of the congeneric red-sided garter snake and we discuss patterns in the distribution of parasites in these two garter snake species. Further, as a step toward understanding the consequences of these infections, we evaluate the potential for these parasites to impact the reproduction of their hosts.