SREL Reprint #2511

Evaporative water loss in two natricine snakes, Nerodia fasciata and Seminatrix pygaea

Christopher T. Winne, Travis J. Ryan, Yale Leiden, and Michael E. Dorcas

University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina 29802 USA

Introduction: Integrating knowledge of physiological adaptations and constraints of animals is crucial for a deeper understanding of their behavior and ecology (Lillywhite, 1987; Lillywhite and Smits, 1992). For instance, physiological characteristics are often correlated with a species' ecology, and, thus, they may act as constraints on terrestrial activity and habitat use (e.g., Lillywhite, 1987). One such physiological characteristic, evaporative water loss, has long been documented to correlate with habitat use in ectotherms and may be a constraining factor operating on their behavior and spatial distributions (reviewed in Mautz, 1982; see below). Evaporative water loss (EWL) is the water lost by evaporation, through the surface of the skin (cutaneous water loss) and respiratory passages (respiratory water loss); EWL does not include body water lost through excretory processes (Mautz, 1982). Physiological variables [e.g., shedding cycle and peripheral circulation (Cohen, 1975), body size (Gans et al., 1968; Mautz, 1982), and acclimation (Kattan and Lillywhite, 1989)], as well as behavioral characteristics [e.g., activity levels (Gans et al., 1968), and exposed surface area and body posture (Cohen, 1975)] are known to influence EWL in reptiles. Abiotic factors, such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed also may be significant factors affecting EWL (Cohen, 1975; Mautz, 1982). . . .

SREL Reprint #2511

Winne, C. T., T. J. Ryan, Y. Leiden, and M. E. Dorcas. 2001. Evaporative water loss in two natricine snakes, Nerodia fasciata and Seminatrix pygaea. Journal of Herpetology 35:129-133.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).