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J Comp Psychol

Title:		Evolutionary persistence of chemically elicited ophiophagous antipredator responses in gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Author(s):		Placyk JS; Burghardt GM;
Address:		"Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Boulevard, Tyler, TX 75799, USA. jplacyk@uttyler.edu"
Journal Title:		J Comp Psychol
Year:		2011
Volume:		125
Issue:		2
Page Number:		134 - 142
DOI:		10.1037/a0022883
ISSN/ISBN:		1939-2087 (Electronic) 0021-9940 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The ability to detect and respond to potential predators is key for the survival of individuals, but this ability is sometimes lost via relaxation of antipredator behavior when prey species are separated from predators. Adult and predator-naive neonate gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) from mainland and insular sites where they do and do not occur with ophiophagous (snake-eating) snakes were tested to determine if responses to such predators have been lost, reduced, or retained, and what might be causing differences in such responses. Our data indicate that, overall, adult snakes from populations syntopic with ophiophagous milksnakes are more responsive to chemical stimuli from milksnakes than adults from areas where they are not syntopic with milksnakes, whereas there were few differences with neonate gartersnakes. Experiments with neonates with or without periodic ophiophagous snake chemical experience over several weeks showed that gartersnakes with such experience became more responsive to ophiophagous cues rather than habituating to them. Such evidence of both genetic and experiential factors underlying the antipredator responses to ophiophagous snakes indicates that antipredator responses have persisted despite separation of predator and prey"
Keywords:		"Animals Animals, Newborn Arousal/genetics Behavior, Animal/*physiology Colubridae/*genetics *Cues Escape Reaction/*physiology *Evolution, Molecular Fear/*physiology/*psychology Female Instinct Male *Phenotype *Pheromones Predatory Behavior/*physiology Spe;"
Notes:		"MedlinePlacyk, John S Jr Burghardt, Gordon M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2011/05/25 J Comp Psychol. 2011 May; 125(2):134-42. doi: 10.1037/a0022883"