Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological Correlates
Ontogenetic shifts in venom occur in many snakes but establishing their nature as gradual or discrete processes required additional study. We profiled shifts in venom expression from the neonate to adult sizes of two rattlesnake species, the eastern diamondback and the timber rattlesnake. We used se...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/10/659 |
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| author | Richard B. Schonour Emma M. Huff Matthew L. Holding Natalie M. Claunch Schyler A. Ellsworth Michael P. Hogan Kenneth Wray James McGivern Mark J. Margres Timothy J. Colston Darin R. Rokyta |
| author_facet | Richard B. Schonour Emma M. Huff Matthew L. Holding Natalie M. Claunch Schyler A. Ellsworth Michael P. Hogan Kenneth Wray James McGivern Mark J. Margres Timothy J. Colston Darin R. Rokyta |
| author_sort | Richard B. Schonour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ontogenetic shifts in venom occur in many snakes but establishing their nature as gradual or discrete processes required additional study. We profiled shifts in venom expression from the neonate to adult sizes of two rattlesnake species, the eastern diamondback and the timber rattlesnake. We used serial sampling and venom chromatographic profiling to test if ontogenetic change occurs gradually or discretely. We found evidence for gradual shifts in overall venom composition in six of eight snakes, which sometimes spanned more than two years. Most chromatographic peaks shift gradually, but one quarter shift in a discrete fashion. Analysis of published diet data showed gradual shifts in overall diet composition across the range of body sizes attained by our eight study animals, while the shifts in abundance of different prey classes varied in form from gradual to discrete. Testosterone concentrations were correlated with the change in venom protein composition, but the relationship is not strong enough to suggest causation. Venom research employing simple juvenile versus adult size thresholds may be failing to account for continuous variation in venom composition lifespan. Our results imply that venom shifts represent adaptive matches to dietary shifts and highlight venom for studies of alternative gene regulatory mechanisms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:34:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e37456f77ae468ba671cd31287faa0a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:34:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e37456f77ae468ba671cd31287faa0a2023-11-20T17:23:23ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512020-10-01121065910.3390/toxins12100659Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological CorrelatesRichard B. Schonour0Emma M. Huff1Matthew L. Holding2Natalie M. Claunch3Schyler A. Ellsworth4Michael P. Hogan5Kenneth Wray6James McGivern7Mark J. Margres8Timothy J. Colston9Darin R. Rokyta10Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USASchool of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USAOntogenetic shifts in venom occur in many snakes but establishing their nature as gradual or discrete processes required additional study. We profiled shifts in venom expression from the neonate to adult sizes of two rattlesnake species, the eastern diamondback and the timber rattlesnake. We used serial sampling and venom chromatographic profiling to test if ontogenetic change occurs gradually or discretely. We found evidence for gradual shifts in overall venom composition in six of eight snakes, which sometimes spanned more than two years. Most chromatographic peaks shift gradually, but one quarter shift in a discrete fashion. Analysis of published diet data showed gradual shifts in overall diet composition across the range of body sizes attained by our eight study animals, while the shifts in abundance of different prey classes varied in form from gradual to discrete. Testosterone concentrations were correlated with the change in venom protein composition, but the relationship is not strong enough to suggest causation. Venom research employing simple juvenile versus adult size thresholds may be failing to account for continuous variation in venom composition lifespan. Our results imply that venom shifts represent adaptive matches to dietary shifts and highlight venom for studies of alternative gene regulatory mechanisms.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/10/659ontogenysize-structured population<i>Crotalus horridus</i><i>Crotalus adamanteus</i>testosteronevenom |
| spellingShingle | Richard B. Schonour Emma M. Huff Matthew L. Holding Natalie M. Claunch Schyler A. Ellsworth Michael P. Hogan Kenneth Wray James McGivern Mark J. Margres Timothy J. Colston Darin R. Rokyta Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological Correlates Toxins ontogeny size-structured population <i>Crotalus horridus</i> <i>Crotalus adamanteus</i> testosterone venom |
| title | Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological Correlates |
| title_full | Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological Correlates |
| title_fullStr | Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological Correlates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological Correlates |
| title_short | Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological Correlates |
| title_sort | gradual and discrete ontogenetic shifts in rattlesnake venom composition and assessment of hormonal and ecological correlates |
| topic | ontogeny size-structured population <i>Crotalus horridus</i> <i>Crotalus adamanteus</i> testosterone venom |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/10/659 |
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