Full text release has been delayed at the author’s request until August 4, 2013.

Degree

MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences, 2012.

Abstract

Challenges for moving in arboreal environments include sizable gaps and complex three-dimensional orientations between the discrete destinations created by branches. Especially for elongate animals, different three-dimensional orientations change the mechanical demands of crossing gaps, but these effects on both the maximal gap distance (Gapmax) and the choice of destinations are poorly understood despite the large diversity of animals that regularly encounter these circumstances. We tested and compared the effects of three-dimensional gap orientation on the performance of three species of snakes with similar length but moderately stout (Boa constrictor), intermediate (Pantherophis guttatus) or slender (Boiga irregularis) shapes, and we tested for bias in choice of destinations for the latter two species. The effects of both gap orientation and species on Gapmax were highly significant, and the rank order of species from greatest to least Gapmax was often from the most slender to the stoutest species. Although the effects of yaw (horizontal) angles were statistically significant, they were small compared to those of pitch (vertical) angles, which created nearly two-fold variation in the performance within each species with the greatest values when snakes went straight down. Within a horizontal plane, P. guttatus and B. irregularis had similar preferences for choosing gaps with smaller yaw angles. However, when pitch angle was varied, P. guttatus preferred lower destinations, whereas B. irregularis preferred higher destinations. Thus, despite many consistent effects of gap orientation on the performance and torques acting on the animals, some behavioral preferences were species specific.

Subject Headings

Biomechanics

Keywords

arboreal; snake; gap bridging; three-dimensional; torque

Committee / Advisors

Bruce Jayne, PhD (Committee Chair)
Elke Buschbeck, PhD (Committee Member)
Kenneth Petren, PhD (Committee Member)

Pages

46p.

Document number: ucin1342104385
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1342104385