Roads are associated with a blunted stress response in a North American pit viper

Dustin A.S. Owen; Evin T. Carter; Matthew L. Holding; Kamal Islam; Ignacio T. Moore

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.04.020

Roads are associated with a blunted stress response in a North American pit viper

Dustin A.S. Owen, Evin T. Carter, Matthew L. Holding, Kamal Islam, Ignacio T. Moore

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Whereas numerous studies have examined roads as anthropogenic stressors in birds and mammals, comparatively few studies have been undertaken on reptiles. We investigated plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels at baseline and following 30. min of restraint stress in free-ranging copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) captured within the forest interior or while in contact with public roads. There was no difference in baseline CORT levels between snakes in the forest and on roads. Copperheads responded to restraint stress by increasing plasma levels of CORT; however snakes on roads exhibited a lower CORT stress response compared to forest snakes. Additionally, among snakes captured on roads there was a negative association between road traffic and baseline CORT, stressed CORT, and the magnitude of the CORT response. Our results suggest that roads are associated with a blunted stress response in copperheads. Reduced stress responses may be indicative of acclimation, the inhibited ability to mount a stress response in the face of prolonged chronic stress, or that road environments select for individuals with lower CORT responsiveness. Either scenario could result in increased road mortality if snakes do not perceive roads as a potential threat.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	87-92
Number of pages	6
Journal	General and Comparative Endocrinology
Volume	202
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.04.020
State	Published - Jun 1 2014
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This project was conducted as an undergraduate research project. We would like to thank Katherine Schaefer, Holly Badin, Bryan Eads, and Griffin Capehart for their assistance in the field; Roger Innes for providing laboratory materials and storage for the duration of the project; Maria Zamlauski-Tucker for providing equipment; Linnea Petercheff and Roger Hedge for assistance with permits; Jim Allen and the H.E.E. for providing housing; Emily Taylor and Timothy Carter for providing valuable insight in the early planning stages of the project; two anonymous reviewers who’s comments greatly strengthened this manuscript; and Kimberly Kirtley for various support throughout this project. This project was funded by Chicago Herpetological Society, Ball State University, Sigma Xi, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Sigma Xi: Ball State University Chapter, and Indiana Academy of Science grants all awarded to D.A.S. Owen. I.T.M. acknowledges financial support from the NSF ( IOS-1145625 ). The Ball State University Animal Care and Use Committee (Protocol #: 283940-2) approved this project. Sampling was carried out under the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Scientific Purposes License (License #: 12-0118).

Keywords

Agkistrodon contortrix
Conservation
Corticosterone
Ecophysiology
Stress response
Traffic

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10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.04.020

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title = "Roads are associated with a blunted stress response in a North American pit viper",

abstract = "Whereas numerous studies have examined roads as anthropogenic stressors in birds and mammals, comparatively few studies have been undertaken on reptiles. We investigated plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels at baseline and following 30. min of restraint stress in free-ranging copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) captured within the forest interior or while in contact with public roads. There was no difference in baseline CORT levels between snakes in the forest and on roads. Copperheads responded to restraint stress by increasing plasma levels of CORT; however snakes on roads exhibited a lower CORT stress response compared to forest snakes. Additionally, among snakes captured on roads there was a negative association between road traffic and baseline CORT, stressed CORT, and the magnitude of the CORT response. Our results suggest that roads are associated with a blunted stress response in copperheads. Reduced stress responses may be indicative of acclimation, the inhibited ability to mount a stress response in the face of prolonged chronic stress, or that road environments select for individuals with lower CORT responsiveness. Either scenario could result in increased road mortality if snakes do not perceive roads as a potential threat.",

keywords = "Agkistrodon contortrix, Conservation, Corticosterone, Ecophysiology, Stress response, Traffic",

author = "Owen, {Dustin A.S.} and Carter, {Evin T.} and Holding, {Matthew L.} and Kamal Islam and Moore, {Ignacio T.}",

year = "2014",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.04.020",

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AU - Carter, Evin T.

AU - Holding, Matthew L.

AU - Islam, Kamal

AU - Moore, Ignacio T.

PY - 2014/6/1

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N2 - Whereas numerous studies have examined roads as anthropogenic stressors in birds and mammals, comparatively few studies have been undertaken on reptiles. We investigated plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels at baseline and following 30. min of restraint stress in free-ranging copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) captured within the forest interior or while in contact with public roads. There was no difference in baseline CORT levels between snakes in the forest and on roads. Copperheads responded to restraint stress by increasing plasma levels of CORT; however snakes on roads exhibited a lower CORT stress response compared to forest snakes. Additionally, among snakes captured on roads there was a negative association between road traffic and baseline CORT, stressed CORT, and the magnitude of the CORT response. Our results suggest that roads are associated with a blunted stress response in copperheads. Reduced stress responses may be indicative of acclimation, the inhibited ability to mount a stress response in the face of prolonged chronic stress, or that road environments select for individuals with lower CORT responsiveness. Either scenario could result in increased road mortality if snakes do not perceive roads as a potential threat.

AB - Whereas numerous studies have examined roads as anthropogenic stressors in birds and mammals, comparatively few studies have been undertaken on reptiles. We investigated plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels at baseline and following 30. min of restraint stress in free-ranging copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) captured within the forest interior or while in contact with public roads. There was no difference in baseline CORT levels between snakes in the forest and on roads. Copperheads responded to restraint stress by increasing plasma levels of CORT; however snakes on roads exhibited a lower CORT stress response compared to forest snakes. Additionally, among snakes captured on roads there was a negative association between road traffic and baseline CORT, stressed CORT, and the magnitude of the CORT response. Our results suggest that roads are associated with a blunted stress response in copperheads. Reduced stress responses may be indicative of acclimation, the inhibited ability to mount a stress response in the face of prolonged chronic stress, or that road environments select for individuals with lower CORT responsiveness. Either scenario could result in increased road mortality if snakes do not perceive roads as a potential threat.

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KW - Corticosterone

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Roads are associated with a blunted stress response in a North American pit viper

Abstract

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Keywords

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