Climate change-induced shifts in survival and size of the worlds' northernmost oviparous snake: A 68-year study.

ABSTRACT: Because of their dependence on ambient temperature ectothermic animals can serve as sentinels of conservation problems related to global warming. Reptiles in temperate areas are especially well suited to study such effects, as their annual and daily activity patterns directly depend on ambient temperature. This study is based on annual data spanning 68 years from a fringe population of Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix), which is the world's northernmost oviparous (egg-laying) reptile, and known to be constrained by temperature for reproduction, morphology, and behavior. Mark-recapture analyses showed that survival probability was generally higher in males than in females, and that it increased with body length. Body condition (scaled mass index) and body length increased over time, indicative o

SUBMITTER: Elmberg J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10956784 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature