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146 results for “rattlesnake”
SBC LTER: Land: Hydrology: Stream discharge and associated parameters at Rattlesnake Creek, Las Canoas Rd (RS02)
Stream Discharge and water temperature were collected with a Solinst Model 3001 LT Levelogger at Rattlesnake Creek at Las Canoas Road, RS02 in the Santa Barbara coastal area (site ID: RS02). Data are reported hourly. Stage values were converted to discharge using a rating curve developed with stream channel cross-sections, roughness estimates and the HEC-RAS model.
Ecological niche models for American black bear, Rafinesque's big-eared bat, and timber rattlesnake
<p>This data set contains rasters that are predictive environmental suitability maps for three wildlife species: the American black bear (<i>Ursus americanus</i>), Rafinesque's big-eared bat (<i>Corynorhinus rafinesquii</i>), and Timber rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus horridus</i>). Rasters for each species include: individual prediction maps for each of 5 ENMs (GBM: generalized boosting model, GLM: generalized linear model, MARS: multivariate adaptive regression spline, MX: maximum entropy, and RF: random forest), as well as the ensemble prediction map from all five ecological niche models (ENMs).</p>
Least-cost habitat linkages for American black bear, Rafinesque's big-eared bat, and timber rattlesnake.
<p>This data set contains 3 shapefiles and associated files that map linkages, which are least-cost paths between adjacent habitat cores for three wildlife species in the Southeastern U.S. The species are: the American black bear (Ursus americanus), Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), and Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). We mapped habitat cores based on c. 2006 land cover, then used LinkageMapper software to identify least-cost paths between them, and buffered the least-cost paths by 2.5 km using ArcGIS, for a total width of 5 km. The buffered least-cost paths are the linkages provided here. The attribute tables for these shapefiles contain fields that describe the importance of each linkage to the overall habitat connectivity network, contemporary and future average modeled habitat suitability within the linkage, change in average proportion suitable, percent of urban land within the linkage, percent of linkage that is protected for conservation, and categorical values for climate threat, whether the linkage was designated as highly important, protection status, and future urbanization threat.</p>
Effects of relational and instrumental messaging on human perception of rattlesnakes
<p>We tested the effects of relational and instrumental message strategies on US residents' perception of rattlesnakes—animals that tend to generate feelings of fear, disgust, or hatred but are nevertheless key members of healthy ecosystems. We deployed an online survey to social media users (n=1,182) to describe perceptions of rattlesnakes and assess the change after viewing a randomly selected relational or instrumental video message. An 8–item, pre– and post– Rattlesnake Perception Test (RPT) evaluated perception variables along emotional, knowledge, and behavioral gradients on a 5–point Likert scale; the eight responses were combined to produce an Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception (ARP) score for each participant. We found that people from Abrahamic religions (i.e., Christianity, Judaism, Islam) and those identifying as female were associated with low initial perceptions of rattlesnakes, whereas agnostics and individuals residing in the Midwest region and in rural residential areas had relatively favorable perceptions. Overall, both videos produced positive changes in rattlesnake perception, although the instrumental video message led to a greater increase in ARP than the relational message. The relational message was associated with significant increases in ARP only among females, agnostics, Baby Boomers (age 57–75), and Generation–Z (age 18–25 to exclude minors). The instrumental video message was associated with significant increases in ARP, and this result varied by religious group. ARP changed less in those reporting prior experience with a venomous snake bite (to them, a friend, or a pet) than in those with no such experience. Our data suggest that relational and instrumental message strategies can improve people's perceptions of unpopular and potentially dangerous wildlife, but their effectiveness may vary by gender, age, religious beliefs, and experience. These results can be used to hone and personalize communication strategies to improve perceptions of unpopular wildlife species.</p>
Evaluation of DNA extracted from timber rattlesnake (Cotalus horridus) cloacal and blood swabs for microsatellite genotyping
<p>Genetic research is a key component to modern wildlife conservation, but it is contingent on the collection of reliable and high-quality genetic samples. Invasive genetic sampling techniques have potential to negatively impact individuals, which may be prohibitive when working with threatened and endangered species. Prior to sample collection, project managers must try to balance the negative impact on individuals included in the study with the demand for DNA and the difficulty of obtaining samples. Although established methods for blood and tissue collection in reptiles meet the need for high-quantity and quality DNA, they inherently require longer handling times and more skill to obtain. Thus, non-invasive DNA collection methods, such as cloacal swabs, may be preferred when animal welfare is a priority. Cloacal swabs are quicker, easier, require less training and reduce handling time. To evaluate cloacal swabbing as an alternative to collecting blood, we obtained both cloacal and blood swabs. We extracted DNA from cloacal and blood cells that were collected from 23 Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus). We assessed DNA by purity (A260/A280), concentration, and microsatellite genotyping. Our results show high-quality DNA can be obtained from both cloacal swabs and blood samples, but quality and concentration of DNA was significantly lower from cloacal swabs. Further, degradation and contamination affects the performance of cloacal DNA when compared to blood DNA in microsatellite-based genotyping. Although we recommend collecting blood samples whenever possible to obtain the highest-quality DNA, cloacal swabs represent a viable alternative for genetic sampling when using microsatellite loci as genetic markers.</p>
Linked collectors and determiners for: Accessing cryptic diversity in Neotropical rattlesnakes (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalus) with the description of two new species.
Natural history specimen data linked to collectors and determiners held within, "Accessing cryptic diversity in Neotropical rattlesnakes (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalus) with the description of two new species". Claims or attributions were made on Bionomia by volunteer Scribes, <a href="https://bionomia.net/dataset/a0f62e9a-3360-4076-92aa-b7c85ca34ce5">https://bionomia.net/dataset/a0f62e9a-3360-4076-92aa-b7c85ca34ce5</a> using specimen data from the dataset aggregated by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, <a href="https://gbif.org/dataset/a0f62e9a-3360-4076-92aa-b7c85ca34ce5">https://gbif.org/dataset/a0f62e9a-3360-4076-92aa-b7c85ca34ce5</a>. Formatted as a Frictionless Data package.
Data for: Inferring population connectivity in Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus) using landscape genetics
<p>Assessing the environmental factors that influence the ability of a threatened species to move through the landscape can be used to identify conservation actions that connect isolated populations. However, direct observations of species' movement are often limited making the development of alternate approaches necessary. Here we use landscape genetic analyses to assess the impact of landscape features on the movement of individuals between local populations of a threatened snake, the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (<em>Sistrurus catenatus</em>). We linked connectivity data with habitat information from two landscapes of similar size: a large region of unfragmented habitat and a previously studied fragmented landscape consisting of isolated patches of habitat. We used this analysis to identify features of the landscape where modification or acquisition would enhance population connectivity in the fragmented region. We found evidence that current connectivity is impacted by both contemporary landcover features, especially roads, and inherent landscape features such as elevation. Next, we derived estimates of expected movement ability using a recently developed pedigree-based approach and Least Cost Paths through the unfragmented landscape. We then used our pedigree and resistance map to estimate resistance polygons of the potential extent for <em>S. catenatus</em> movement in the fragmented landscape. These polygons identify possible sites for future corridors connecting currently isolated populations in this landscape by linking the impact of future habitat modification or land acquisition to dispersal ability in this species. Overall, our study shows how modeling landscape resistance across differently fragmentated landscapes can identify habitat features that affect contemporary movement in threatened species in fragmented landscapes and how this information can be used to guide mitigation actions whose goal is to connect isolated populations.</p>
Data for: Inferring population connectivity in Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus) using landscape genetics
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Effects of relational and instrumental messaging on human perception of rattlesnakes
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Data From: Estimation of genome-wide coupling in rattlesnake hybrids provides insight into the process of speciation and its progress
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Ecological niche models for American black bear, Rafinesque's big-eared bat, and timber rattlesnake
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Evaluation of DNA extracted from timber rattlesnake (Cotalus horridus) cloacal and blood swabs for microsatellite genotyping
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Least-cost habitat linkages for American black bear, Rafinesque's big-eared bat, and timber rattlesnake.
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Cryptic diversity in the Mexican highlands: thousands of UCE loci help illuminate phylogenetic relationships, species limits and divergence times of montane rattlesnakes (Viperidae: Crotalus)
With the continued adoption of genome-scale data in evolutionary biology comes the challenge of adequately harnessing the information to make accurate phylogenetic inferences. Coalescent-based methods of species tree inference have become common, and concatenation has been shown in simulation to perform well, particularly when levels of incomplete lineage sorting are low. However, simulation conditions are often overly simplistic, leaving empiricists with uncertainty regarding analytical tools. We use a large ultraconserved element (UCE) data set (>3000 loci) from rattlesnakes of the Crotalus triseriatus group to delimit lineages and estimate species trees using concatenation and several coalescent-based methods. Unpartitioned and partitioned maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analysis of the concatenated matrix yield a topology identical to coalescent analysis of a subset of the data in bpp. ASTRAL analysis on a subset of the more variable loci also result in a tree consistent with concatenation and bpp, whereas the SVDquartets phylogeny differs at additional nodes. The size of the concatenated matrix has a strong effect on species-tree inference using SVDquartets, warranting additional investigation on optimal data characteristics for this method. Species-delimitation analyses suggest up to 16 unique lineages may be present within the C. triseriatus group, with divergences occurring during the Neogene and Quaternary. Network analyses suggest hybridization within the group is relatively rare. Altogether, our results reaffirm the Mexican highlands as a biodiversity hotspot and suggest that coalescent-based species-tree inference on data subsets can provide a strongly supported species tree consistent with concatenation of all loci with a large amount of missing data.
Data from: Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave Rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), Prairie Rattlesnakes (C. viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico
<p>Predators must contend with numerous challenges to successfully find and subjugate prey. Complex traits related to hunting are partially controlled by a large number of co-evolved genes which may be disrupted in hybrids. Accordingly, research on the feeding ecology of animals in hybrid zones has shown that hybrids sometimes exhibit transgressive or novel behaviors, yet for many taxa empirical studies of predation and diet across hybrid zones is lacking. We undertook the first such field study for a hybrid zone between two snake species, the Mojave Rattlesnake (<em>Crotalus scutulatus</em>) and Prairie Rattlesnake (<em>C. viridis</em>). Specifically, we leveraged established field methods to quantify hunting behaviors of animals, their prey communities, and diet of individuals across the hybrid zone in southwestern New Mexico, USA. We found that, even though hybrids had significantly lower body condition indices than snakes from either parental lineage, hybrids were generally similar to non-hybrids in hunting behavior, prey encounter rates, and predatory attack and success. We also found that, compared to <em>C. scutulatus</em>, <em>C. viridis</em> was significantly more active while hunting at night and abandoned ambush sites earlier in the morning, and hybrids tended to be more <em>viridis</em>-like in this respect. Prey availability was similar across the study sites, including within the hybrid zone, with Kangaroo Rats (<em>Dipodomys</em> spp.) as the most common small mammal both in habitat surveys and frequency of encounters with hunting rattlesnakes. Analysis of prey remains in stomachs and feces also showed broad similarity in diets, with all snakes preying primarily on small mammals and secondarily on lizards. Taken together, our results suggest that the significantly lower body condition of hybrids does not appear to be driven by differences in their hunting behavior or diet, and may instead relate to metabolic efficiency or other physiological traits we have not yet identified.</p>
The spatial ecology of Mojave Rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), Prairie Rattlesnakes (C. viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico
<p>Hybridization between species provides unique opportunities to understand evolutionary processes that are linked to reproductive isolation and ultimately speciation. The extrinsic factors that limit hybridization, however, are poorly understood for most animal systems. Although the spatial ecology of individuals in natural habitats is fundamental to shaping reproductive success and survival, analyses of the spatial ecology of hybrids and their parental groups are rarely reported. Here we used radiotelemetry to monitor wild rattlesnakes across an interspecific hybrid zone (<em>Crotalus scutulatus </em>and <em>C. viridis</em>) and measured movement parameters and space use (Utilization Distributions, UDs) of individuals to evaluate the hypothesis that hybridization resulted in transgressive or atypical movement patterns. Unexpectedly, of the spatial metrics we investigated, we found that hybrids were very similar to parental individuals. Nonetheless, hybrids did show increased patchiness of core UDs, but this result is likely driven by increased habitat patchiness in the hybrid zone. Overall, we did not find evidence for overt extrinsic barriers to hybridization associated with spatial ecology; thus, we suggest that the close evolutionary history between the two parental species—and their ecological and behavioral similarities—likely increases the probability of hybridization events in this unique region of New Mexico.</p>
Data from: Scaling and relations of morphology with locomotor kinematics in the sidewinder rattlesnake Crotalus cerastes
<p>The movement of limbless terrestrial animals differs fundamentally from that of limbed animals, yet few scaling studies of their locomotor kinematics and morphology are available. We examined scaling and relations of morphology and locomotion in sidewinder rattlesnakes (Crotalus cerastes). During sidewinding locomotion, a snake lifts sections of its body up and forward while other sections maintain static ground contact. We used high-speed video to quantify whole-animal speed and acceleration; the height to which body sections are lifted; and the frequency, wavelength, amplitude, and skew angle (degree of tilting) of the body wave. Kinematic variables were not sexually dimorphic, and most did not deviate from isometry, except wave amplitude. Larger sidewinders were not faster, contrary to many results from limbed terrestrial animals. Free from the need to maintain dynamic similarity (because their locomotion is dominated by friction rather than inertia), limbless species may have greater freedom to modulate speed independently of body size. Path analysis supported: (1) a hypothesized relationship between body width and wavelength, indicating that stouter sidewinders form looser curves; (2) a strong relationship between cycle frequency and whole-animal speed; and (3) weaker effects of wavelength (positive) and amplitude (negative) on speed. We suggest that sidewinding snakes may face a limit on stride length (to which amplitude and wavelength both contribute), beyond which they sacrifice stability. Thus, increasing frequency may be the best way to increase speed. Finally, frequency and skew angle were correlated, a result that deserves future study from the standpoint of both kinematics and physiology.</p>
Phylogenomic discordance is driven by wide-spread introgression and incomplete lineage sorting during rapid species diversification within rattlesnakes (Viperidae: Crotalus and Sistrurus)
<p>Phylogenomics allows us to uncover the historical signal of evolutionary processes through time and estimate phylogenetic networks accounting for these signals. Insight from genome-wide data further allows us to pinpoint the contributions to phylogenetic signal from hybridization, introgression, and ancestral polymorphism across the genome. Here, we focus on how these processes have contributed to phylogenetic discordance among rattlesnakes (genera <em>Crotalus</em> and <em>Sistrurus</em>), a group for which there are numerous conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses based on a diverse array of molecular datasets and analytical methods. We address the instability of the rattlesnake phylogeny using genomic data generated from transcriptomes sampled from nearly all known species. These genomic data, analyzed with coalescent and network-based approaches, reveal numerous instances of rapid speciation where individual gene trees conflict with the species tree. Moreover, the evolutionary history of rattlesnakes is dominated by incomplete speciation and frequent hybridization, both of which have likely influenced past interpretations of phylogeny. We present a new framework in which the evolutionary relationships of this group can only be understood in light of genome-wide data and network-based analytical methods. Our data suggest that network radiations, like those seen within the rattlesnakes, can only be understood in a phylogenomic context, necessitating similar approaches in our attempts to understand evolutionary history in other rapidly radiating species.</p> <p>La filogenómica nos permite descubrir la señal histórica de los procesos evolutivos a través del tiempo y estimar redes filogenéticas tomando en cuenta estas señales. El conocimiento de datos genómicos incluso permiten distinguir la contribución de la señal filogenética de la hibridación, introgresión, y de polimorfismos ancestrales a lo largo del genoma. En este trabajo nos enfocamos en como estos procesos han contribuido a la discordancia filogenética entre las serpientes de cascabel, un grupo en el que hay numerosos conflictos en las hipótesis filogenéticas obtenidas de un grupo variado de datos moleculares y métodos analíticos. Nosotros abordamos la inestabilidad de la filogenia de las serpientes de cascabel (generos <em>Crotalus</em> y <em>Sistrurus</em>) usando datos genómicos generados de transcriptomas muestreados en la mayoría de las especies conocidas. Estos datos genómicos, analizados con métodos basados en coalescencia y redes filogenéticas, revelaron numerosos casos de especiación rápida donde los arboles de genes individuales conflictúan con el árbol de especies. Además, la historia evolutiva de las serpientes de cascabel esta dominada por una especiación incompleta y una frecuente hibridación, las cuales probablemente han influenciado interpretaciones pasadas de las filogenias. Nosotros presentamos un nuevo marco en el que las relaciones evolutivas de este grupo solo pueden ser entendidas en base a datos de genomicos y métodos analíticos basados en redes filogenéticas. Nuestros datos sugieren que la radiación en redes filogenéticas, como se ha visto dentro de las serpientes de cascabel, solo puede ser entendida en un contexto filogenómico, necesitando aproximaciones similares en nuestro intento de entender la historia evolutiva en otras especies con radiaciones rápidas.</p>
Flexibility of cutaneous evaporative water loss in response to hydration in pregnant Prairie Rattlesnakes and their neonates
<p>Data and code associated with the paper published in the Journal of Experimental Biology in 2025.</p>
Data from: Local prey community composition and genetic distance predict venom divergence among populations of the northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus)
Identifying the environmental correlates of divergence in functional traits between populations can provide insights into the evolutionary mechanisms that generate local adaptation. Here, we assess patterns of population differentiation in expressed venom proteins in Northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) from 13 locations across California. We evaluate the relative importance of major biotic (prey species community composition), abiotic (temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and genetic factors (genetic distance based on RADseq loci) as correlates of population divergence in venom phenotypes. We found that over half of the variation in venom composition is associated with among-population differentiation for genetic and environmental variables, and that this variation occurred along axes defining previously observed functional trade-offs between venom proteins that have neurotoxic, myotoxic and hemorrhagic effects. Surprisingly, genetic differentiation among populations was the best predictor of venom divergence, accounting for 46% of overall variation, whereas differences in prey community composition and abiotic factors explained smaller amounts of variation (23% and 19%, respectively). The association between genetic differentiation and venom composition could be due to an isolation by distance effect or, more likely it may reflect an isolation-by-environment effect where selection against recent migrants is strong, producing a correlation between neutral genetic differentiation and venom differentiation. Our findings suggest that even coarse estimates of prey community composition can be useful in understanding the selection pressures acting on patterns of venom protein expression. Additionally, our results suggest that factors other than adaptation to spatial variation in prey need to be considered when explaining population divergence in venom.
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.