Dissertation Research: Testing the Co-Adaptation Hypothesis:The Thermotregulatory Behavior and Thermal Physiology of theRibber Boa, a Nocturnal Snake

进化生物学的一个主要目标是发展可用于解决具体问题的概念。进化生物学中的一个重要概念是生物体的特征是相互匹配的（即共同适应）。例如，受细菌感染的爬行动物的体温调节行为与它们的免疫系统发挥最佳功能的温度相匹配。本研究的目的是确定共同适应的概念在多大程度上可以应用于爬行动物的热生物学。因为爬行动物从环境中获得大部分身体热量，所以描述它们的温度关系对于理解它们的生态至关重要。我们将讨论夜间活动的蛇在活动期间表现出异常低的体温之间的关系。我们将通过外科手术在蛇体内植入对温度敏感的无线电发射器，以确定它们在野外的体温。在实验室中，我们将研究体温变化对蛇的生理机能（如消化率、新陈代谢、爬行速度）的影响。通过统计比较体温及其对生理的影响，我们将确定橡胶鲍鱼的共同适应程度。我们的分析方法也将为未来的共同适应研究提供一个框架。

A major goal of evolutionary biology is to develop concepts that can be used to address specific questions. An important concept in evolutionary biology is that the characteristics of organisms are well matched (i.e., co-adapted) to each other. For example, the thermoregulatory behavior of reptiles with bacterial infections matches the temperature at which their immune systems function best. The purpose of this study is to determine to what extent the concept of co-adaptation can be applied to the thermal biology of reptiles. Because reptiles obtain most of their body heat from the environment, describing their temperature relationships is critical to understanding their ecology. We will address the relationship between the nocturnal snakes that exhibit unusually low body temperature during activity. We will surgically implant temperature-sensitive radiotransmitters in snakes to determine their body temperatures in the field. In the laboratory, we will study the effects of variation in body temperature on snake physiology (e.g., digestive rate, metabolism, crawling speed). Through statistical comparisons of body temperatures and their effects on physiology, we will determine the extent of co- adaptation in rubber boas. Our analytical methods also will provide a framework for future studies of co-adaptation.