Phenology and predictors of spring emergence for the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).

ABSTRACT: Many temperate reptiles survive winter by using subterranean refugia until external conditions become suitable for activity. Determining when to emerge from refugia relies on the ability to interpret when above-ground environmental conditions are survivable. If temperate reptiles rely on specific environmental cues such as temperature to initiate emergence, we should expect emergence phenologies to be predictable using local climatic data. However, specific predictors of emergence for many temperate reptiles, including the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), remain unclear, limiting our understanding of their overwintering phenology and restricting effective conservation and management. Our objectives were to identify environmental cues of spring emergence for C. horridus

SUBMITTER: Jesper AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10538278 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature