Santa Cruz Island Reserve

24 Jun, 05 PM - 29 Jun, 05 PM

Ideally, I would like to explore the evolution of life-history traits in mainland vs. island populations of the gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer. My previous research has explored the evolution of aging and the physiology of life histories in garter snake populations characterized by "fast-living" and "slow-living" life-histories. Since a published account of the Santa Cruz Island gopher snake suggests that it exhibits dwarfism, it would be an ideal population in which to explore the role of the endocrine system in divergence in body size between mainland and island populations, as well as potential trade-offs with reproduction and/or lifespan. However, the first step in launching this potential research project would be to determine whether I can indeed find reasonable numbers of island gopher snakes, which I hear have been rarely sighted (though may be recovering due to the restoration efforts on the island). I would like to visit the island and search for snakes, to determine the feasibility of this project. Furthermore, should I find snakes, I will also be interested in exploring more basic aspects of their population biology, behavior, and habitat choice, with the hope of providing valuable information for their conservation and management.

Visit #28537 @Santa Cruz Island Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 25280 | Research

Life history of gopher snakes

faculty - Westmont College

Reservation Members(s)

Amanda Sparkman Jun 24 - 29, 2012 (6 days)
Amanda Sparkman Jun 24 - 29, 2012 (6 days)
Amanda Sparkman Jun 24 - 29, 2012 (6 days)

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