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Refugia use, a function of foraging?

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    Posted: 22 Oct 2004 at 12:20pm

Just a little brainwave I had this morning but I would be interested in others thoughts.

A couple of threads recently have made me think how do reptiles intercept refugia and why do they sometimes take so long to use them. Is it a function of foraging activity?

I started thinking about adder, I've seen them lying out next to refugia in the spring, ignore them, move to mating areas, ignore refugia and disperse. When I do find them under refugia it's often in foraging grounds. I've seen the same with slow-worms, not using refugia until after a wet spell, presumably a good time to foraging for slugs.

This has made me think that perhaps these 2 species will only intercept and use refugia as a result of foraging. Add to this the increased need to raise body temps after feeding as a factor that would make them stay under refugia. Why would an adder for example move from a good basking spot with adjacent cover unless it was foraging for food?

What do others think about this, is it something that could be studied in the field, if so how would it be approached? I'm particurlarly interested from the standpoint of the number of surveys that fail to detect animals.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Vicar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2004 at 1:02pm

Hrm...I could be 'out to lunch' on this one, but I was thinking that finding reptiles has similarities to how we hunt scuds :P

Broadly...an idea of the reptile's 'operating cycle' should be represented. Here's a diagram I knocked up a few weeks ago:

Developing this idea, especially the 'Activities' bits could provide a range of instances where Reptile could encounter refugia, of course why and when they decide to use tins is an entirely different matter.

Just thought I'd throw this into the pot :P

Steve Langham - Chairman    
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2004 at 1:37pm

Yep, I was begining to think along the same lines, breaking it down to activities. For example male adder are very mobile whilst mate searching, so might be likely to encounter refugia. Though I don't see them use them! Are they simply pre-occupied with finding mates and basking activity is secondary during this activity. It isnt' going to be easy though chasing them about in the field and observing this sort of behaviour!

I wouldn't have put refugia survey under hide though, they predominently use them to bask, even if under them if you think about it. Our native reptiles openly bask where they will catch the most sunlight and have refuge close by, a tin provides both, and they can be on or under at any given time and still be 'basking' or at least raising their body temps above ambient air temperature.

I'm interested in the time factors, I've no doubt adder for instance will make a tin 'home' and return to it the following year after hibernation. Similar behaviour is seen in female adder when they have communal basking areas when gravid, they will use them season after season. But what are the factors that influence how long it takes a species to use refugia.

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