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Winter weather woes?
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by kacz on January 14, 2007
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Here we are at the ides of January and in the Middle Atlantic States we’ve had less than a handful of freezing nights. The days, although relatively warm, have not been hot enough (I think) to stimulate active feeding. I suspect that this trend will end, at least briefly, in the next few weeks, but I wonder what the effects of the warmer winter could have on the indigenous herpifauna? Will their brumation be delayed, lessened or interrupted? Is their period of dormancy dictated by photoperiod or ambient temperature? Could we expect higher winter mortality due to elevated metabolism and greater energy losses? How will the weather effect the breeding and fecundity of the spring crop?
Paul M. Kaczmarczik
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RE: Winter weather woes?
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by Cro on January 14, 2007
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I am thinking that temperatures have more influence than photo periods.
The warmer temps have stimulated a bunch of breeding activity in my Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnakes. They are not feeding yet, but sure seem to think it is spring breeding season. Lots of male to male combat and breeding going on.
They have access to the daily change in ambient light, so that should not be a factor.
In a couple of days the winter temperatures will return, which will result in the snakes being cooled 15 or 30 degrees or more. It will be interesting to see what this does to their amorous activity.
I am guessing they will return to their dormant state and not become active until the temperature rise again.
One note about photo-period. If a snake were hibernating / brumating underground, it would not know the photo period of the surface, although it might "feel" the gravitational influences of the moon and earth.
This is a subject that still needs a lot of study.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Winter weather woes?
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by Cro on January 15, 2007
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On the same subject, here is what I have observed this winter in North Georgia.
We had about two weeks of very cold weather early in December. The temperatures got into the teens and even single digits. After that, we had a warm spell with temperatures hitting the 70 degree range in the day, and 50`s at night. During that time, the reptiles and amphibians came back out. I was able to find anole lizards and catch tadpoles and even saw a road killed black rat snake.
The second wave of cold weather came through, with temperatures in the 50`s in the day, and 30`s at night. After that, the weather repeated the warming with the 70/50 temperatures, however the second time, the reptiles did not emerge from hibernation / brumation. I was not able to find any tadpoles in the ponds, and I was not able to find any anole lizards or snakes.
This makes me think that eventually, the snakes, lizards, frogs, etc. decide that it is time to truely go in for the winter, and are deep underground where they will stay for a couple of months, even though the surface temperatures might warm again to the 70/50 range for a few days.
It would be fun to attach a tracking transponder with a temperature transmitter to a bunch of snakes and keep up with their winter time activity, and then plot that activity / temperature against the temperatures on the surface during the winter cool and warm periods.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Winter weather woes?
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by GREGLONGHURST on January 15, 2007
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I know about that brief period of arctic cold in Georgia, John. We spent that long weekend in Tennessee, spending the first night in Tifton. I believe the overnight low was around 20*. Our first two days in Maryville did not get above freezing.
Back to the subject...sorta...There are anhingas & great blue herons nesting in Palm Beach County, Florida. I could be wrong, but I think it's a month or three early for that. I previously thought that photoperiod was the critical issue in regards to this, but evidently temperature plays a major role as well.
~~Greg~~
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