Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Migration00:53

Migration

Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
Gastrulation01:56

Gastrulation

Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
Life Histories01:29

Life Histories

Constrained by limited energy and resources, organisms must compromise between offspring quantity and parental investment. This trade-off is represented by two primary reproductive strategies; K-strategists produce few offspring but provide substantial parental support, whereas r-strategists produce much progeny that receives little care. These strategies are related to an organism’s survival likelihood across its lifespan, which is represented by a survivorship curve. Three general types of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Small population size and possible extirpation of the threatened Malagasy poison frog <i>Mantella cowanii</i>.

PeerJ·2024
Same author

Phenology and predictors of spring emergence for the Timber Rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus horridus</i>).

PeerJ·2023
Same author

Limited gene flow and pronounced population genetic structure of Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in a Midwestern prairie remnant.

PloS one·2022
Same author

Growing as slow as a turtle: Unexpected maturational differences in a small, long-lived species.

PloS one·2021
Same author

BODY CONDITION OF EASTERN BOX TURTLES (<i>TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA</i>) EVALUATED BY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY.

Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians·2019
Same author

Predicting the range of a regionally threatened, benthic fish using species distribution models and field surveys.

Journal of fish biology·2018

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Using Enclosed Y-Mazes to Assess Chemosensory Behavior in Reptiles
06:15

Using Enclosed Y-Mazes to Assess Chemosensory Behavior in Reptiles

Published on: April 7, 2021

Fall and Spring Staging in a Refugia-Dependent Migratory Snake.

Andrew C Jesper1, Michael J Dreslik2, Scott A Eckert3

  • 1National Great Rivers Research and Education Center East Alton Illinois USA.

Ecology and Evolution
|July 12, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Timber rattlesnakes use extended staging periods near refugia to manage seasonal transitions, acting as adaptive buffers against unpredictable thermal conditions. This behavior helps these migratory reptiles balance winter survival with limited active seasons.

Keywords:
ectothermshibernaculamigrationphenologyrefugiastaging

More Related Videos

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians
04:37

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians

Published on: May 12, 2019

Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles
07:55

Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles

Published on: February 7, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Using Enclosed Y-Mazes to Assess Chemosensory Behavior in Reptiles
06:15

Using Enclosed Y-Mazes to Assess Chemosensory Behavior in Reptiles

Published on: April 7, 2021

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians
04:37

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians

Published on: May 12, 2019

Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles
07:55

Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles

Published on: February 7, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Herpetology

Background:

  • Seasonal refugia are vital for animals, but can create temporal bottlenecks limiting resource access.
  • Migratory reptiles face challenges balancing winter survival with short active seasons.
  • The role of staging periods in reptile migration and refugia use is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the existence, timing, and function of fall and spring staging in Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus).
  • To determine how these snakes coordinate migration with refugia use during variable thermal transitions.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of Timber Rattlesnakes during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 overwintering periods.
  • Tracking snake movements and proximity to refugia.
  • Analyzing thermal thresholds associated with refugia entry and exit.

Main Results:

  • Prolonged fall (8-29 days) and spring (22-26 days) staging periods were observed.
  • Snakes exhibited limited movement near refugia, entering/exiting primarily at night.
  • Refugia ingress/egress occurred near 14°C, while fall arrival/spring departure occurred near 19°C.

Conclusions:

  • Staging periods act as adaptive buffers, helping Timber Rattlesnakes navigate thermally variable seasonal transitions.
  • These phenologically flexible phases extend the time spent in refugia, impacting active season duration.
  • Understanding staging is crucial for assessing climate sensitivity in migratory ectotherms.