ARPHA Preprints, doi: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e123759
Earthworms as a prey source for an insular Thamnophis
Julie Ray‡, Rowan Wergeland§, Jeffery Karafa|‡ University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, United States of America§ Winter High School, Winter, United States of America| Independent Researcher, Memphis, United States of America
Corresponding author: Julie Ray ( teamsnakepanama@gmail.com ) © Julie Ray, Rowan Wergeland, Jeffery Karafa. This is an open access preprint distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Citation:
Ray J, Wergeland R, Karafa J (2024) Earthworms as a prey source for an insular Thamnophis. ARPHA Preprints. https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e123759 |  |
Abstract
Insular organisms evolve in closed systems; thus, changes caused by introduced species can drastically change their ecology. Isle Royale National Park is a remote island in Lake Superior that, until relatively recently, was void of earthworms. Its two native natricine snakes are known to feed on earthworms on the mainland, but it has now been confirmed that Eastern Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) are feeding on earthworms on Isle Royale. It is unknown how the new dietary source will impact the snakes on Isle Royale.
Keywords
diet, Eastern Gartersnake, Isle Royale National Park, Redbelly Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata