Influence of body reserves and eye opacity on foraging behaviours of tiger snakes

Abstract

Physiological states such as reproductive stage, parasite load, body condition, and environmental conditions, influence behaviours in complex ways. According to the Clark's asset-protection principle (Clark, 1994. Behav Ecol 5:159-170), individuals in good body condition take fewer predation risks than conspecifics in lesser condition. In many ectotherms, foraging, digestion, and moulting require an elevation of the metabolism achieved through intensive basking, thereby increasing the risk of being detected by predators. Using four experimental groups of snakes, we showed that two independent physiological states, (1) the presence of prey in the stomach and (2) eye opacity associated with moulting, increase predator vulnerability. In a parallel experiment, two groups of snakes were maintained on contrasting diets (high food intake vs. low food intake) for 6 months. Apart from sloughing periods, most individuals (89%) accepted their meal irrespective of food treatment. Consequently, well-fed snakes exhibited higher body condition (one third physiological state) relative to less-fed individuals. During sloughing events, however, well-fed individuals often refused (78%) to eat while the less-fed individuals readily accepted (86%) their meal despite eye opacity. Individuals with less body reserves accepted the cumulative risks owing to eye opacity and stomach fullness. By contrast, well-fed snakes remained more "prudent" (i.e., exhibited behaviours that depended on their internal state). Our results show that snakes can adjust their foraging "decision" by combining different physiological informations.