Anthropology - Butler University

Petri plate bioassays. Captive snakes had similar temperature, relative humidity, photoperiod,
and dietary histories. Upon contact with snake fecal-treated papers, ticks terminated rapid
crawling, curled their legs, and remained still, with roughly 45% of ticks exhibiting this
arrestment display, as compared to only 8% of resting ticks on untreated papers. Furthermore,
ticks showed little change or movement over one, two, and 12 hours. Similar arrestment by ticks
occurred on uric acid-treated papers without a dose-response. Sheds prompted arrestment,
although not as intensively or for as long a time as exposure to snake excreta. There was,
however, an increase in tick arrestment over time with increasing concentration of
squalene. Thus, excreta and squalene may be strong components of snake host cues in larval
ticks. Because snakes defecate near den sites and are only occasional hosts, cueing in on snake
excreta is likely more important for retaining ticks in habitats where rodent prey are abundant.
Digestive Flexibility in Variable Kingsnake Hatchlings and its Ecological Implication
Benjamin Rausch & Lindsey Korfel, Faculty Sponsors: Kevin Gribbins & Richard Phillips,
Wittenberg University
Studies have shown that the digestive systems of adult snakes have the capacity for up-regulation
and down-regulation, based on feeding habits. This regulation of digestive structures provides
snakes with an ability to conserve energy between prey captures, leading to increased fitness. For
hatchling snakes this process could increase energy preservation that may lead to an increased
survival rate at times of minimal prey captures. To examine the regulation of the digestive
system in 3-month old hatchlings (n=3), we used light microscopy to characterize differences in
luminal histology of the non-glandular and glandular stomach as well as the small and large
intestine between snakes of three types: 90-day fast, 41-day fast and 2-days postprandial. The
non-glandular region of the postprandial snake possessed greater extracellular secretions
compared to the 90-day and 41-day fast, for which no differences were found. The postprandial
glandular stomach contained larger gastric glands as well as greater epithelial hypertrophy. In the
small intestine of the postprandial snake there was consistently superior morphological
development of villi, increased capillary blood flow, larger lacteals, increased intracellular lipid
droplets, and a more conspicuous brush boarder. There were no visual differences in the
histology of the large intestine between treatments. The 90-day and 41-day fasted snakes had
similar histological features of all examined structures. Based on the results of this study, the
digestive system of hatchlings experience the same up-regulation and down-regulation as adults.
Fluctuating Asymmetry's Effect on Fitness Indicators at Varying Incubation Temperatures
in the Variable Kingsnake (Lampropeltis mexicana)
Benjamin Rausch, Chloe Hart, Benjamin Hagen, Derek Metz Stephanie Hurst & Faculty
Sponsor: Richard Phillips, Wittenberg University
The variable kingsnake, Lampropeltis mexicana, occupies a niche with an average mid-year
temperature ranging from 23-32°C. Studies suggest environmental and developmental stress
may increase the asymmetry of bilateral traits therefore indicating low fitness. The goal of this
investigation was to test for possible relationships between fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and
possible fitness indicators (growth rate and frequency of food rejections) between two
temperature treatments (23°C, n=13 and 30°C, n=19), which may invoke gravid females to select
for a specific microclimate to increase hatchling fitness. FA values were analyzed using digital