Resource partitioning and dwarfism patterns between sympatric snakes in a micro‐insular Mediterranean environment. Issue 3 (27th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luiselli, Luca; Petrozzi, Fabio; Mebert, Konrad; Zuffi, Marco A. L.; Amori, Giovanni
• Is Part Of: Ecological research. Volume 30:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 527
• Page End: 535
• Publication Date: 2015-02-27
• Subjects: Snakes -- Insular syndrome -- Mediterranean -- Ecological relationships; Ecology -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Japan -- Periodicals; Écologie; Japon; Ecology; Japan; Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1007/s11284-015-1250-x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0912-3814

Abstract

Abstract: Islands provide an evolutionary window, where a simplified natural network combined with unusual environmental conditions promote selective processes that trigger rapid changes in biological constituents of a species. The Mediterranean island of Montecristo, Italy, provides such a situation with a reduced fauna and flora compared to the mainland. We measured body size (SVL) and recorded diet of the two snake species occurring on the island, the Asp Viper ( Vipera aspis ) and the Western Whip Snake ( Hierophis viridiflavus ), and compared these data with populations of conspecifics from the mainland. Compared to mainland populations, the three principal results are: (1) no obvious niche shift along the food or habitat axes between the two snake species; (2) significant body size shift (insular dwarfism) of the whip snake by 30 %, and ca. 10 % in the viper; and (3) arboreal ambushing in the viper to add an alternative diet (birds) compared to mainland populations (more mice) to compensate for the lack of suitable micro‐mammals on Montecristo Island.