Growth Rates of a Generalist Garter Snake in a Variable Ecosystem
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Authors
Schall, Benji
Issue Date
2024-04-04
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Abstract
The Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) is an abundant species that lives in and moves among a wide variety of habitats throughout its lifetime. Their generalist life histories provide potential for insight into reptile behavior and growth patterns. Despite their research potential, garter snakes are surprisingly sparsely studied in some areas. By tracking the growth rates of T. sirtalis and the related ribbon snake, T. saurita, across multiple heterogeneous growth seasons, we may learn how environmental conditions impact their life histories, including feeding and reproduction. Amid a changing climate, growth rate research could help scientists understand how animals respond to changing environments, which is crucial in conservation efforts for identifying high-risk organisms or communities. During the summer of 2023, an Alma College student research group collected data on Thamnophis species at the Alma College Research Station at Davis Lake in Vestaburg, MI. We captured individuals and marked new captures using subcutaneous PIT tags for future identification. For each capture, we took a photo that we later analyzed to measure the individual’s snout-vent length at the time of capture. This data set serves as a continuation of snout-vent length data collected by students during previous summers, so it shows the growth of recaptured snakes over time. In this project, I compare growth data to weather records to analyze how weather affects snake growth. Through data analysis, I expect to find that dryer, cooler summers are associated with reduced snake growth rates.