The relationship between population dynamics and dietary preferences within two snake genera (Storeria and Thamnophis)

<p>Amidst massive losses in biodiversity, it is vital to identify the factors driving species declines. The main objective of this research was to assess dietary differences between <em>Storeria dekayi</em> and <em>Thamnophis sirtalis</em> and their less abundant and more geographically restricted sister species, <em>Storeria occipitomaculata</em> and <em>Thamnophis butleri</em>, in Illinois and Michigan. I hypothesized that greater abundance and more cosmopolitan distribution are associated with consuming a wide variety of prey and more nonnative prey. To assess diets, I conducted field surveys of <em>Storeria</em> and <em>Thamnophis</em> and analyzed DNA metabarcoding data from fecal samples. I found no significant difference in the dietary diversity or proportion of nonnative prey in the diets of <em>Storeria</em> or <em>Thamnophis</em>. The diet of S. occipitomaculata was dominated by <em>Deroceras laeve</em> (native), whereas <em>T. butleri</em> specialized on <em>Lumbricus rubellus</em> (nonnative). In order to protect rare snake species from decline, we must preserve important predator and prey habitats.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2021

Author dc:creator

• Dixon, Molly M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Katherine Greenwald, Ph.D.
• Cara Shillington, Ph.D.
• Margaret Hanes, Ph.D.

• Butler's garter snake
• Dekay's brown snake
• Diet
• DNA barcoding
• Eastern garter snake
• Red-bellied snake
• Biology
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1111

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2477