- Chuck Smith
- May 26
- 1 min read
Continuous physio-logging (heart rate, body temperatures) of Crotalus atrox and Crotalus ornatus in Far West Texas
Rocha, Arturo
Mata-Silva, Vicente
Department of Biological Sciences
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas USA
Understanding the physiological responses of ectotherms such as rattlesnakes to dynamic environmental conditions is invaluable for forecasting emergence, energy expenditure and thermoregulation in overwintering sites; especially in arid ecosystems such as the Chihuahuan Desert. Using miniature, implantable dataloggers, this study aims to continuously measure heart rate and body temperatures of two sympatric rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox and Crotalus ornatus) during the late 2024/early 2025 winter months in far west Texas (Indio Mountains Research Station). Integrated with environmental data, microclimate modeling with topography (elevation, slope, shading angles), meteorological (ambient, soil temperatures) and vegetation (shade) using NicheMapR to model and predict winter physiological and behavioral (i.e. basking, emergence) components in rattlesnake selected overwintering sites.