Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico
Abstract 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 zon...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10683 |
| _version_ | 1797448661914877952 |
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| author | Dylan W. Maag Yannick Z. Francioli Noelle Shaw Ashana Y. Soni Todd A. Castoe Gordon W. Schuett Rulon W. Clark |
| author_facet | Dylan W. Maag Yannick Z. Francioli Noelle Shaw Ashana Y. Soni Todd A. Castoe Gordon W. Schuett Rulon W. Clark |
| author_sort | Dylan W. Maag |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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 are lacking. We undertook the first such field study for a hybrid zone between two snake species, the Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) and the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). Specifically, we leveraged established field methods to quantify the hunting behaviors of animals, their prey communities, and the 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 group, hybrids were generally similar to non‐hybrids in hunting behavior, prey encounter rates, and predatory attack and success. We also found that, compared to C. scutulatus, C. viridis was significantly more active while hunting at night and abandoned ambush sites earlier in the morning, and hybrids tended to be more viridis‐like in this respect. Prey availability was similar across the study sites, including within the hybrid zone, with kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) as the most common small mammal, both in habitat surveys and the 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:13:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-410b9e5bb48b46419f4b18baca2455f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:13:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-410b9e5bb48b46419f4b18baca2455f42023-11-29T05:44:08ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-11-011311n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10683Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New MexicoDylan W. Maag0Yannick Z. Francioli1Noelle Shaw2Ashana Y. Soni3Todd A. Castoe4Gordon W. Schuett5Rulon W. Clark6Department of Biology San Diego State University San Diego California USADepartment of Biology University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Texas USADepartment of Biology San Diego State University San Diego California USADepartment of Biology San Diego State University San Diego California USADepartment of Biology University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Texas USADepartment of Biology, Neuroscience Institute Georgia State University Atlanta Georgia USADepartment of Biology San Diego State University San Diego California USAAbstract 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 are lacking. We undertook the first such field study for a hybrid zone between two snake species, the Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) and the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). Specifically, we leveraged established field methods to quantify the hunting behaviors of animals, their prey communities, and the 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 group, hybrids were generally similar to non‐hybrids in hunting behavior, prey encounter rates, and predatory attack and success. We also found that, compared to C. scutulatus, C. viridis was significantly more active while hunting at night and abandoned ambush sites earlier in the morning, and hybrids tended to be more viridis‐like in this respect. Prey availability was similar across the study sites, including within the hybrid zone, with kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) as the most common small mammal, both in habitat surveys and the 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.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10683ambush predationbody conditionforaginghybridizationpitvipersReptilia |
| spellingShingle | Dylan W. Maag Yannick Z. Francioli Noelle Shaw Ashana Y. Soni Todd A. Castoe Gordon W. Schuett Rulon W. Clark Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico Ecology and Evolution ambush predation body condition foraging hybridization pitvipers Reptilia |
| title | Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico |
| title_full | Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico |
| title_short | Hunting behavior and feeding ecology of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus), prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), and their hybrids in southwestern New Mexico |
| title_sort | hunting behavior and feeding ecology of mojave rattlesnakes crotalus scutulatus prairie rattlesnakes crotalus viridis and their hybrids in southwestern new mexico |
| topic | ambush predation body condition foraging hybridization pitvipers Reptilia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10683 |
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