Altered behavior of neonatal northern watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) exposed to maternally transferred mercury

作者：Chin Stephanie Y; Willson John D; Cristol Daniel A; Drewett David V V; Hopkins William A^*

来源：Environmental Pollution, 2013, 176: 144-150.

DOI：10.1016/j.envpol.2013.01.030

• Maternal transfer
• Performance
• Locomotion
• Foraging
• Learning

Little is known about effects of maternally transferred contaminants in snakes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sublethal effects of maternally transferred mercury (Hg) on neonatal northern water-snakes (Nerodia sipedon). We captured 31 gravid females along a historically Hg-contaminated river. Following birth, we measured litter Hg concentrations and assessed locomotor performance, foraging ability (i.e., number of prey eaten, latency to first strike, strike efficiency, and handling time), and learning (i.e., change in foraging measures over time) in their offspring (n = 609). Mercury concentrations in offspring negatively correlated with motivation to feed and strike efficiency. Over time, strike efficiency and latency to strike decreased for all snakes in the study. However, offspring from contaminated areas maintained consistently lower efficiencies than reference individuals. This study is the first to examine sublethal behavioral effects of maternally transferred contaminants in snakes and suggests that maternally transferred Hg negatively affects offspring behavior.

• 出版日期2013-5