Effect of resource supplementation on female Western Rattlesnake postpartum movement

We examined body condition and movement of snakes, finding that pregnant rattlesnakes consumed supplemented resources until late parturition and had significantly higher postpartum body condition than controls. Contrary to our expectations, increased access to resources ad libitum did not significantly halt or alter postpartum movements away from hibernacula. These results suggest that resource availability influences certain life-history traits such as body condition but not others like postpartum movement.
Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology - Category: Zoology Authors: Source Type: research