Dissertation Research: The Ontogeny and Phylogeny of Antipredator Behavior in Snakes of the Genus Thamnophis

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The evolution of structural traits (e.g., bones and muscles) often occurs through changes in the timing of development. The behavior of animals may also evolve via such changes in developmental timing; however, this possibility has been almost completely ignored by behavioral biologists. Preliminary evidence suggests a strong link between the development and evolution of anti-predator behavior in garter snakes. The present study will explore this relationshiop in detail and thus should add significantly to our knowledge of the evolutionary modification of behavior.